The Danger of Groupthink

When we gather together, there's pressure to agree.

Groups create norms. And belonging often means we have to conform. Challenging those norms threatens the group.

And so it can put our belonging at risk.

As a result there is a dynamic to agree. To choose people like us. To conform to the pack for safety and harmony.

But we become blinded to danger.

We make poor decisions that threaten the group's safety. We don't see what was obvious to others. It happens over and over again in all kinds of groups.

The key is in having diversity of thinking.

But this means we have to create the safety to challenge. And the ability to be challenged internally. All, so we can safely navigate the real external dangers.

In this podcast episode Clark, Tony and I discussed diversity, conflict and groupthink.