What do you think of when you here the term, “Group Think.”
Oftentimes, you think of a room full of experts talking about ideas or brainstorming some new, fascinating product. In fact, it is much different. Group think is what happens when you get a group of experts who basically reinforce each other’s misguided ideas and opinions.
Let me give you an example.. When the NASA space shuttle went down years ago, it was the product of group think. The engineers, experts, and scientists working on the project were all listening to each other talk about how “this was going to work” and “that was no big deal.” But there wasn’t any outside influence telling them what was really going to happen!
We see it all the time in technology. Just think Silicon Valley. How many millions of dollars are wasted each year in venture capital because the entrepreneurs are in too deep? They are so caught up in their own technology and their own way of thinking, they forget about users and customers?
So the next time you are in a meeting or a group discussion, and everyone is agreeing with each other (ass kissing aside…) - step back and evaluate the situation. Are they agreeing because it is a truly good idea? Or are they agreeing because they are all thinking the same way?
And if you come to the conclusion that everyone is thinking the same way, what can you do to change the situation? Hire a consultant? Run the conversation by an impartial friend?
If you have seen something like this happen, I would love to hear the story! Group think can be a startup killer. Help our other entrepreneurs avoid it!
