Group Think and the Wisdom of the Crowds is Actually Quite Dangerous I'm Afraid

Group Think and the Wisdom of the Crowds is Actually Quite Dangerous I'm Afraid

Groupthink and the Wisdom of the Crowd are not necessarily mutually exclusive. While the former is not the most fun, it can be made less stressful by a few simple changes in organizational structure. For example, groupthink is more likely to occur in a homogeneous group than one whose members are of varying ages, race and creed. One such example is a corporate board composed of a cross section of the human species.


However, the best groups do not always make the best decisions. One way to mitigate the risk is to engage in a bit of strategic planning. The most obvious route is to identify, and eliminate, members with a predisposition to think and behave in ways that aren't conducive to the collective good. Likewise, it is important to ensure that members are aware of, and are willing to display, their social capital and other non-financial assets.

Lastly, it is necessary to foster an environment of trust and transparency. A good start is to establish a "no apologies" policy among group members. Moreover, the best way to promote trust is to create a clear line of communication in a timely manner. By doing so, you can avoid the usual "oh my god" moments that plague group meetings. As a result, your team will be able to make better decisions and move closer to your goals.

Lastly, the key is to implement these practices early on. After all, no one wants to feel that they've been left out in the cold. If they can't trust their peers, they'll never get the buy-in they need to succeed. So, take the time to do it right and reclaim your team's trust.