Oct 29
How to Prevent Groupthink in your Work Team
October 29, 2021
As business owner, it is important for you to know about groupthink, or the extreme tendency to maintain the same consensus within a group. Members of a group affected by groupthink automatically censor their individual ideas - which could be important contributions - in favor of the predominant idea in the group or the group leader’s preference. The purpose of groupthink is to avoid debate and to feel accepted by the group. The group’s consensus becomes more important than common sense and intelligently solving problems.
At first, this idea of collective unanimity may sound ideal. Regardless, groupthink can lead to negative consequences such as:
- Preventing new ideas from forming, as well as not objectively analyzing current ones
- Promoting a tense and hostile environment toward other points of view
- Triggering unethical, immoral, or irrationally risky decisions that can produce material, monetary, or credibility losses
- Negatively affecting group members’ morale and motivation
- Inviting your collaborators to express their doubts and opinions about the ideas presented. Ask them if there is something they consider could be a better option or what should be reconsidered.
- Setting aside adequate time for the process of evaluating ideas and decision-making - don’t rush it.
- Maintaining a diverse team with collaborators from different backgrounds, experiences and specialties
- Establishing an explicit and concrete system to prevent groupthink. For example, a “corporate fool,” a person designated to question all ideas and promote debate in the group.