Observe: Before approaching the counter, watch the barista for 30 seconds. Note their demeanor, how they interact with other customers, and the overall atmosphere.

Mirror: Subtly mirror the barista's body language and tone. If they're energetic, match that energy slightly. If they're calm, adopt a calm tone.

Label: As you approach, offer an observation about their work. Say something like, "Looks like you're having a busy morning," or "You seem to be handling the rush really well."

Inquire: When ordering, use open-ended questions like, "What coffee would you recommend today?" or "What's your favorite drink to make right now?"

Listen Actively: Pay close attention to the barista's responses, acknowledge their suggestions with phrases like "That sounds great, thank you for suggesting that."

Before the meeting, send out a pre-read with the brainstorming topic and instructions to all team members.

At the start of the meeting, explicitly state your intention to ensure everyone's voice is heard and valued.

Use a 'round-robin' approach, asking each team member in turn to share one idea (without interruption from others) before opening the floor for general discussion.

Actively solicit input from quieter members by asking direct questions like, 'What are your thoughts on this, [Name]?' or 'Do you have a different perspective, [Name]?'

Conclude the session by summarizing the key ideas and thanking everyone for their contributions, highlighting how the diverse perspectives enriched the outcome.

Write a 30-second elevator pitch about your current role or a project you're working on.

Record yourself reciting the pitch.

Review the recording, identifying any filler words (um, ah, like, so) or areas where you lose focus.

Practice the pitch 5 times, focusing on eliminating filler words and maintaining a clear, engaging tone.

Record yourself again and compare it to the first recording.