Did you know “groupthink” is a real word? I didn’t until today. Well, it’s a word that someone made up. Which is true of all words I suppose… Irregardless (which may or may not be a word), let’s talk about two beliefs that will help you and your team avoid groupthink and the dangers that go with it.
One more hidden danger of being a respected leader
I’ve done several posts recently on the dangers of being a respected leader.
You wouldn’t think that leading in a way that produces followers who admire and emulate your behavior for all the right reasons would introduce risks to you and your team.
But it does.
Today’s post on groupthink is directly connected to my post 3 Powerful Ways to Disagree When You Agree. There I outlined strategies to use when you recognize the warning sign of your team regularly reaching agreement quickly and without conflict.
Groupthink also contributes to the traps of getting comfortable (A Hidden Danger Of Being A Respected Leader. How To Avoid This Trap.) and duplicating an admired leader (How to Keep Your Team From Being Just Like You.).
The dangers I describe in these three posts have a common theme.
Teammates often feel compelled, whether they realize it or not, to conform.
And, this describes what is known as “groupthink”.
Groupthink defined
According to Psychology Today the term “groupthink” was first introduced in the November 1971 issue of their publication by psychologist Irving Janis.
Here is the definition of groupthink from Psychology Today. I recommend the full article to learn more on this topic.
Groupthink is a phenomenon that occurs when a group of well-intentioned people make irrational or non-optimal decisions spurred by the urge to conform or the believe that dissent is impossible. The problematic or premature consensus that is characteristic of groupthink may be fueled by a particular agenda—or it may be due to group members valuing harmony and coherence above critical thought.
Psychology Today
The words “well-intentioned people” and “non-optimal decisions” highlight the importance of this topic for you and for me.
If you’re reading this blog, you are striving to be a kind and confident leader. You are “well-intentioned” and your teams likely are too.
And, no leader wants to make “non-optimal decisions”. Or worse, “irrational” decisions.
To lead well, even when our motives are right, we need to avoid groupthink and help our teams do the same.
To do this effectively, we need to start with what we believe.
2 beliefs to avoid groupthink
I’m sure there are many more beliefs we could include in this discussion. But, I see these two as critical and fundamental.
You may even think they are so obvious they aren’t worth noting.
But, this is exactly why I want to talk about them.
It is easy to say we agree with these beliefs, but our actions may not match what we say we believe.
Because we are “well-intentioned people”, kind leaders with teams who want to do things the right way, we are especially susceptible to “irrational or non-optimal decisions” that come with conformed thinking.
Therefore, let’s focus on these two important beliefs to help us avoid groupthink.
The first belief is described well by my friends at the Kansas Leadership Center.
Belief 1 – There are multiple interpretations to be considered
Take a couple of minutes to watch this short video from the Kansas Leadership Center then keep reading for a few of my thoughts on how this mindset equips us to avoid groupthink.
Like all the content produced by the team at the Kansas Leadership Center this video is packed with valuable and practical leadership wisdom.
You’ll notice the message is built on an important assumption.
The way we interpret a situation is not the only way a situation can be interpreted.
You may be thinking that this is obviously true. Something everyone knows.
I agree, but as I stated above, sometimes our actions reveal that we have forgotten this obvious truth.
Groupthink is a behavior that exposes that we aren’t acknowledging, or perhaps valuing, other interpretations of a situation.
This is especially important for healthy, successful teams to remember. Great leadership brings great results.
And, this success can create blind spots.
We can begin to think that because our way of viewing the world works, it is the only way, the only perspective.
But, it’s not. And we have to remind ourselves of that.
Those outside our group of teammates likely don’t see things how we see them. They haven’t been included in our groupthink activity.
And that’s a good thing.
Their different, and possibly even conflicting, perspectives might help make our great team even better.
This brings us to the second belief that’s required to avoid groupthink.
Our way may not be the best way.
Belief 2 -There might be a better way
It’s one thing to acknowledge that interpretations different from our own exist. It’s another to admit those interpretations might teach us something.
After all, our entire team agrees. And, we’re a great team. We all see things the same way. We’ve reached the same conclusions.
It’s obvious to us we are right and we are good to go.
But take just a minute to pause and observe the mindset I’ve described.
Do you see it? The danger that having a strong team of trusted teammates who think alike can bring?
We’re groupthinking.
It’s easy to get blind spots built on the confidence we have in ourselves or our team.
That confidence may be fully justified based on our exceptional past performance and amazing team dynamics. But, it may also keep us and our team from improving.
This is why it is critical that we focus on being open to the idea that other perspectives might make our team even better.
If we and our teammates can commit to being open to sincerely listen to what others have to say, we are more prepared to avoid groupthink.
But, how does this play out in real life with our teams? How can we put what we believe into action?
Here are some practical tips I’ve found useful.
5 practical tips to avoid groupthink
Make your team aware. Talk with your team about the dangers of groupthink and conformity. Encourage them to look for warning signs. Invite them to speak freely when they see a lack of diversity in the team’s way of thinking.
Assign a “devil’s advocate.” Pick one or two team members to rotate into a role of intentionally representing an opposing view when the group reaches consensus. This technique was used by President John F. Kennedy when he assigned his brother, Robert, this role following the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Here is an interesting article on that topic.
Explore “tough interpretations”. Our teams can quickly groupthink ourselves into easy interpretations. Tough interpretations are those that make us uncomfortable, but may still hold some truth we need to consider. The video above and the book Your Leadership Edge [affiliate link] teach more on this topic.
Zoom out. As a leader we can help our teams avoid groupthink by stepping back from the group and taking a broader view. You can find more information on how to do that effectively in my post, How To Serve Your Team By Zooming Out.
Fear your ego. Our pride is a dangerous thing. Hearing our entire groupthinking team tell us we’re right can destroy our humility. To avoid groupthink, we need to surround ourselves with trusted colleagues who will tell us what we need to hear even if it’s not what we want to hear.
I include more actions in my post 3 Powerful Ways to Disagree When You Agree that will help you and your team avoid groupthink too.
Put our beliefs into action to avoid groupthink and improve
It takes preparation to avoid groupthink and the dangers that come with it.
Establishing these two core beliefs personally and with our teams is a powerful first step.
And, taking the five suggested actions will help you and your teams increase the diversity in your thinking and perform even better as a result.
Let’s lead with kindness and confidence.
Greg
Discussion Questions
- What other actions do you recommend for leaders and team who want to avoid groupthink?
- How have you considered multiple interpretations to situations you’ve encountered?
Your interpretations and perspectives are important to me. Please share your experiences in the comments section so we can learn together.
