Groupthink is the enemy of innovation.
Have you every joined a meeting to brainstorm, but somehow the solution felt predetermined? You might be experiencing groupthink.
This is a bad place to be. But the signs might be clearer than you think...
Group think isn't a buzzword, it's a real psychological phenomenon that affects you/your team's outcomes.
It happens when people in a group care more about getting along than making the best decision. Potentially overlooking better options or just ignoring people who disagree.
But how can you spot it?
- believing the group is invincible and can do no wrong
- justifying poor choices to maintain a false sense of cohesion
- viewing actions as morally superior
- underestimating those outside the group
- suppressing doubts or dissenting opinions
On my team at @semrush we're taking deliberate steps to avoid it.
It starts with how projects are started. Each person proposes ideas on how we might reach our overall goal. But every project needs to identify risks involved. We're not moving forward without it.
Ideas can happen anytime so they need room to grow.
We capture and review them bi-weekly. Any team member can present an idea for consideration. An added benefit is that we opened a form for stakeholders to share ideas which really helps spark our creativity.
As a leader, you build the space for ideas to flourish, not to promote your own. This part is easier said than done sometimes...
For me, I've found handing off the research and conception of projects to my team has helped me avoid this. It makes me curious first and foremost.
Here's some other ways to avoid groupthink:
- encourage speaking up; every opinion matters.
- assign a devil’s advocate to question prevailing opinions.
- invite outside experts to refresh perspectives.
No matter what you do, keep making decisions and learn as you go.