We have all heard the expression, “There is strength in
numbers,” and most of us would agree that multiple brains are better than just
one. But what many people may not know, is there is danger in more than two
brains collaborating together if that collaboration is not done correctly. In
1972, Irving Janis coined the term “Groupthink” to describe the tendency for a
group becoming inept at making rational and efficient judgments due to the
pressure the group places on each other.
Whether it was in your Kindergarten class, where little Jimmy pressured
the whole table to believe carrots were bad for them, or in the work place,
where your team decided to continue a project even though it was more likely to
fail than not, at some point most everyone has experienced the phenomenon of
groupthink. A few key concepts Vistage Florida believes are crucial to not only
prevent groupthink, but maximize the time and value its members bring to their
groups are:
- Bring together individuals from different, non-competing backgrounds.
- Provide outside feedback and coaching for the group, challenging their views and cultivating their ideas.
- Provide clear structure and clear rules for meetings, while still encouraging members to be creative.
It is obvious that its members are benefiting from the
structured collaboration Vistage provides. Its more than 20,000 members earn a
5% higher average compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for their company
revenues than U.S. companies that are not Vistage members. More brains working
together are better than one; it just takes guidance and structure, the way
Vistage has been successfully providing its members for over 50 years.
Kelly D.
Scott
Chairman/CEO
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