Harvard Business Review

NOVEMBER 22, 2013

Yale psychologist Irving Janis used the debacle to coin the term “groupthink,” which refers to a psychological drive for consensus at any cost that suppresses dissent and appraisal of alternatives. The idea of instilling candid debate to avoid groupthink has become a guiding principle in many business school classrooms and boardrooms.

Groupthink 8

Groupthink Janis Consensus After Action Review 8

Harvard Business Review

FEBRUARY 11, 2015

The groupthink risk. In one case, the director of a business unit in a financial services corporation required his direct reports to participate several times per week in a 10-15 minute mindfulness session involving controlled breathing and guided imagery. Many participants came to dread the exercise.

Stress 8

Stress Self-aware Groupthink Ethics 8

Harvard Business Review

JULY 28, 2016

However, I find it extremely troubling that these luminaries — particularly the participating institutional investors — see such a limited role for non-executive directors to engage directly with shareholders on “governance and key shareholder issues,” leaving the job largely to the CEO.

CEO 8

CEO Groupthink Sharpe Committee 8

Harvard Business Review

JULY 2, 2013

I recently participated in a stimulating roundtable discussion on how U.S. Diversity of opinions, rather than indicating board dysfunction, may also give shareholders confidence that the board is tackling important issues holistically and not plagued by groupthink. boards of directors should engage with their companies'' shareholders.

Groupthink 8

Groupthink Banking CEO Diversity 8

RapidStart Leadership

MAY 23, 2017

But after a while, even the best ones can descend into groupthink and lose their creative edge. As a group, pick something everyone can enjoy and participate in, and let off a little steam. The change will add depth to your team and build a greater appreciation for how everyone contributes to team success. Shuffle the team.

Groupthink 130

Groupthink Open-book Creativity Team 130

Harvard Business Review

MARCH 5, 2014

It is different from “groupthink.” As a group norm, we reinforce it by endorsing “constructive” cultures that denigrate dissent as a lesser form of participation than enthusiasm. This is why violent politeness often gets stronger the closer one gets to the C-suite.

Politics 12

Politics Groupthink Commitment Price 12

Harvard Business Review

DECEMBER 17, 2013

He was convinced that this otherwise entirely pleasant socializing and socialization led invariably to a kind of groupthink among the community of experts. Just as an object may move in three perpendicular directions, corresponding to horizontal, vertical, and longitudinal, so an object may participate in three perpendicular futures.

Groupthink 8

Groupthink Emotional Intelligence Learning-by-Doing Hedge 8

Harvard Business Review

JUNE 30, 2011

When outraged Vancouverites turned to blogs and Facebook to identify participants in the Stanley Cup riots, many celebrated sites like Vancouver 2011 Riot Pics and Vancouver 2011 Criminal List as examples of putting social media to concrete and constructive use.

Consensus 13

Consensus Media Policies Groupthink 13

Harvard Business Review

MAY 19, 2017

You can get trapped in a version of groupthink, with a single set of shared relationships. Now she’s been identified to participate in numerous special projects, and other senior leaders have expressed interest in having her join their projects or teams. Sometimes, though, your boss simply won’t loosen the leash.

Groupthink 13

Groupthink Video Learning-by-Doing Career 13

Harvard Business Review

MARCH 15, 2013

The factor that made the greatest difference between the most and least successful teams, Heaphy and Losada found, was the ratio of positive comments ("I agree with that," for instance, or "That's a terrific idea") to negative comments ("I don't agree with you" "We shouldn't even consider doing that") that the participants made to one another.

360-Degree Feedback 14

360-Degree Feedback Groupthink Construction Self-aware 14

ExactHire - Leadership

MARCH 8, 2017

As you can imagine, it resulted in a hot mess of groupthink…complete with vanilla platitudes that can only result from trying to be everything to everyone. However, when we first decided that it was time to make a change and embrace the value process, we made the classic rookie mistake of involving everyone.

Process 52

Process Groupthink Company Document 52

Leading Blog

MARCH 13, 2012

Willing Participation. Without diversity groupthink sets in. People need to be able to talk to one another freely and regularly. Groups that do not have this kind of interaction are nothing more than loose collections of individuals working on their own tasks, toward their own ends. Diverse Group.

Cooper 285

Cooper Groupthink Diversity Teamwork 285

Harvard Business Review

JULY 4, 2014

In exploring the problem of groupthink, the research of Charlan Nemeth reveals how easily “majority thinking” squeezes out “minority thinking.” He concludes that avoiding polarization requires a structured process of deliberation to ensure participants are exposed to alternative lines of thinking. Structured deliberation is key.

Productivity 15

Productivity Products Brainstorming Diversity 15

Harvard Business Review

JULY 4, 2014

In exploring the problem of groupthink, the research of Charlan Nemeth reveals how easily “majority thinking” squeezes out “minority thinking.” He concludes that avoiding polarization requires a structured process of deliberation to ensure participants are exposed to alternative lines of thinking. Structured deliberation is key.

Productivity 12

Productivity Products Brainstorming Diversity 12