Avoiding Groupthink

It can damage the team’s ability to make decisions and be successful

Groupthink occurs when members of a team want to get along and do not want any conflict amongst them. In groupthink, ideas initiated are accepted without fully testing their validity or viability. This is a potentially dangerous situation for teams as members of the team will not bring up their concerns and poor, not well thought-out or tested ideas before being implemented.

Groupthink can become common among teams that have been together for a long time. They don’t want to introduce conflict into the team. You can also find groupthink occurring among teams that have no diversity among the group members.

Keep an eye out for groupthink:

• No objections raised when a team member with seniority or with perceived power (usually a team lead) states his/her position on a subject
• The team leader, rather than encouraging others thoughts and opinions, states his/her thoughts immediately
• When ideas are presented, no alternative ideas are suggested by others – the first idea presented is the only idea presented
• If someone does offer an alternative, he/she is quickly “quieted” by the group
• Disagreement is not permitted among the group members

It’s important to prevent groupthink to ensure the team remains successful – able to make good decisions and ensure a successful conclusion to their task. You can prevent groupthink by:

• Have processes in place to evaluate and validate ideas
• Use brainstorming techniques to ensure a variety of ideas are presented
• Ensuring team leaders do not put forth their thoughts and ideas before other team members do so
• For every option or solution to a problem selected, prior to moving forward, ensure the team looks at all the pros and cons and think about an alternative to the option or solution

Keep on the lookout for groupthink! When it occurs, the ideas and solutions coming out of the team are rarely the best ones and, overtime, the team can no longer be effective as they are making poor decisions.