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GroupThink     Consensus

vs

GroupThink is the illusion of agreement, a type of thinking that occurs when a group strives to minimize conflict, maximize cohesiveness, and reach a consensus without critically testing, analyzing, and evaluating ideas.

 

When a group reaches decisions too quickly it does not properly consider the implications of its decisions.

 

GroupThink results in an ineffective consensus, too little to no conflict at all will lower the quality of the groups decision.

 

Groups with high esteem leaders are most prone to GroupThink. If group members consider themselves highly cohesive and take pride in getting along well with one another GroupThink tends to be present as well.

 

Symptoms of Group Think

  1. Critical thinking is not encouraged or rewarded

  2. Members think their group can do no wrong

  3. Members are too concerned about justifying their actions

  4. Members apply pressure to those who do not support the group

  5. Members often believe that they have reached a true consensus

  6. Members are too concerned about reinforcing the leader’s beliefs

 

Suggestions for Reducing Group Think

  1. Encourage critical independent thinking

  2. Be sensitive to status differences that may affect decision making

  3. Invite someone from outside the group to evaluate the group’s decision-making process

  4. Assign a group member the role of devil’s advocate

  5. Ask group members to subdivide into small groups (or work individually) to consider potential problems with suggested solutions

  6. Use e-mail and other electronic communication technology to permit people to make anonymous contributions; this will reduced the effects of group member status differences

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

Consensus occurs when all group members support and are committed to a decision. Even if a group does not reach consensus on key issues, it is not necessarily a failure.

 

Good decisions can certainly emerge from groups whose members do not all completely agree on decisions.

 

Consensus should not come too quickly. If it does, your group is probably a victim of GroupThink.

 

To achieve consensus group members should emphasize areas of agreement. Consensus relies on careful and thoughtful communications between members of the group.

 

Suggestions for reaching Consensus:

  1. Groups have the tendency to get off track, help keep the group oriented towards its goal

    1. Use Metadiscussional phrases ex.) “Aren’t we getting a little off subject”

    2. Keep the focus on the group’s goal rather than on specific strategies to achieve the goal

    3. Display known facts for all group members to see

    4. Do not wait until the very end of the deliberations to suggest solutions

  2. Be other-oriented and sensitive to the feelings of others. Listen without interrupting, make an honest effort to set aside your own ideas and seek to understand the ideas of others.

    1. Give your idea to the group

    2. Do not assume that someone must win and someone must lose

    3. Use group-oriented rather than self-oriented pronouns ex.) “we, us, our”

    4. Avoid opinionated statements that indicate a closed mind

    5. Clarify misunderstandings

    6. Emphasize areas of agreement

  3. Promote honest interaction and dialogue. Genuine consensus is more likely to occur if group and team members honestly express their thoughts and feelings; withholding ideas and suggestions may lead to GroupThink

    1. Do not change your mind too quickly just to avoid conflict

    2. Avoid easy techniques that reduce conflict

    3. Seek out differences of opinion

    4. Involve everyone in the discussion, frequently contribute to the group

    5. Use a variety of methods to reach agreement

    6. Expand the number of ideas and alternatives

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

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