Decisions, Decisions

Consulting and Seminars from

H.F. Lillywhite, Logical Learning and Consulting

503-649-7647 email: decisions@hfl-llc.com

The quality of our work and our lives depends, to a great extent, on the quality of the decisions we make.

Decision Making Tips

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Groupthink, the Powers and Perils of Strong Leadership
One hour seminar

Groupthink is a decision-making poison. It is defined as failure to speak out with pertinent contrary information or opinions in the face of real or perceived group consensus. It may also manifest itself when people believe that it is not their place to mention a potential problem. This is a particularly deadly problem since it prevents adequate consideration of all relevant information. Groupthink is especially prevalent in the political arena but it does affect nearly all humans. For example one study of helicopter accidents in search and rescue operations found that in 80% of those accidents someone aboard saw a problem but thought it was not his place to say anything about it.

The purpose of this seminar is to raise participant awareness and provide tools to help avoid the trap of groupthink. The goal is for participants to become more assertive, speaking out about problems they see. Another goal is for those in positions of authority to encourage everyone to speak up and to listen to what they say.

Format: The core examples used are two events from the Kennedy administration. First the Bay of Pigs assault is used to show how groupthink caused some very smart men to make a major blunder, one of the worst foreign policy disasters in the history of the United States. Then the Cuban missile crisis is presented as a counterexample which shows how to avoid groupthink. Participants are encouraged to add their own examples.

Basic seminar outline:

Introduction - importance of good decisions
Why people don't speak up (limited purviews, mindguards, don't want to be in the outgroup, etc.)
Effects of groupthink
Avoiding groupthink, including the importance of a good devil's advocate
Symptoms of groupthink.

The seminar format is interactive with the leader presenting questions and examples. Participants are asked to think about how similar problems might affect their work or life. Most participants will recognize how they fail to speak out or listen to others. This will motivate them to think carefully about how to take full advantage of group knowledge and make better desicions.