Title: What Are the Problems With Groupthink? +How to Avoid Them
Headings: What Are the Problems With Groupthink? +How to Avoid Them
What Are the Problems With Groupthink? +How to Avoid Them
1. What Is Groupthink?
2. Why Is Groupthink a Problem in Business?
A Groupthink Case Study: Enron
3. How to Identify Groupthink
Illusion of Invulnerability
Collective Rationalization
Belief in the Morality of the In-Group
Negative Stereotypes of the Out-Group
Direct Pressure on Dissenters
Self-Censorship
Illusion of Unanimity
Mindguards
4. How to Prevent Groupthink in Your Team
Assign a Devil’s Advocate
Have the Leader Speak Last
Invite Outsiders
Reward “Critics”
Have Greater Diversity
"The mere presence of diversity in a group creates awkwardness, and the need to diffuse this tension leads to better group problem solving.”
Conclusion

Content: He found that such decision-making wasn't always effective, largely because people prioritized conformity over rational thinking. They thought not as individuals, but as a group. Here’s a simple definition of groupthink from Psychology Today: “Groupthink occurs when a group of well-intentioned people make irrational or non-optimal decisions that are spurred by the urge to conform or the discouragement of dissent.” When a team is operating in groupthink mode, it'll shut down debate or alternative viewpoints. It'll be committed to a certain point of view and will dismiss warning signs or contradictory data. It may score highly for things like team spirit and group identity, which are usually positive things, but it'll not be a healthy decision-making environment. Groupthink can cause problems such as: bad decisions
exclusion of outsiders/dissenters
lack of creativity
blindness to potential problems
resistance to new ideas
excessive deference to authority
believing only the facts that support existing opinions
We’ll look at these issues in more detail, especially in a business context, in the next section. 2.