Thirty Ways to Resist Groupthink
September 6 2011 by Robert Lawrence Kuhn
- Encourage open discussion.
- Examine all alternatives.
- Bring in new perspectives.
- Develop a culture where dissent is appreciated.
- Dissent should not be misinterpreted as disrespect for the group’s consensus.
- Designate a “Devil’s Advocate” by assigning someone to ask hard questions.
- Rotate the group’s Devil’s Advocate every meeting.
- Ask each member, in some sequence, to play the role of “critical evaluator.”
- Teach the art of adversarial conversation.
- Force members to present contradicting views (objections or doubts).
- Focus on sensitive subjects by revisiting tough decisions.
- Challenge assumptions and arguments even after decisions are made.
- Appreciate the benefits of bickering.
- Reward creative deviance (even if not successful).
- Reward critical thinking.
- Reward those who are shown to speak truth (with hindsight).
- Do not assume that silence means agreement.
- Leaders should avoid giving an early opinion.
- Do not come to early consensus.
- Take time to think through major issues.
- Rotate job positions.
- Cast jobs against type to disrupt an “old boy” network.
- When the stereotypical “yes-man” emerges, expose him/her.
- Assign several independent groups to work on the same issue.
- Divide the group into subgroups and have each critique the others’ ideas.
- Develop competition among subgroups.
- Invite new members into the group (preferably people not well known).
- Encourage members to discuss the group’s ideas with trusted people outside of the group (respecting confidentiality).
- Test new ideas on other, independent groups.
- Run a pilot program (where applicable).
