Learn to review groupthink risks through independent options, space for dissent, explicit evidence and open questions, and clear decision and review ownership.
Groupthink describes consensus pressure that interferes with evaluating alternatives. Friendly relationships alone do not establish it.
Silence and agreement are different outcomes. Record alternatives and open questions and identify the decision owner.
The APA dictionary includes self-censorship and interpersonal pressure in groupthink. (APA Dictionary: Groupthink) Avoid counting non-participation as approval.
Provide individual time to write options and concerns.
Compare supporting material and objections alongside the proposer’s role. Mark unknown values and their scope.
Retain rejected options and reasons for later review as information changes.
Record decision ownership, delivery owners, and review dates. Keep participation available to people who raised objections.
Align public project descriptions with actual decisions and schedules.
For a pricing meeting, participants can record estimates and concerns before seeing the proposed price. Investigate reasoning and included costs when alternatives differ. The purpose is better evidence alongside the number of objections.
SpreadSite is a no-code website builder that lets you create, publish, and update a website from Google Sheets using ready-made templates.
To publish a website communicating your agreed project information, give SpreadSite a try!
A: Investigate decision practices and pressure.
A: Distinguish speech participation from actual agreement.
A: Keep options and reasons for later review.
A: Ownership, a review point, and open questions.
