Symptoms of groupthink

[Ehsanuls55]

Is your team just doing the same thing during meetings?

Groupthink can manifest itself in a number of ways that are easy to overlook, but crucial to recognize. Here's what to look out for to avoid groupthink in the workplace.

Too much agreement, too fast
**Teams that rush to agreement may be more focused on avoiding conflict than finding the best solution.

For example, during a product launch meeting, if everyone agrees to the schedule without questioning resource constraints or market readiness, they are likely skipping a crucial assessment. This quick agreement is a danger sign: critical thinking is being pushed aside in favor of speed, which can lead to overlooking risks or missed opportunities.

Avoid disagreement
When team members are hesitant to express divergent opinions, creativity suffers. People australia school email list may remain silent to avoid tension, especially if past disagreements have been handled poorly.

For example, in a strategy session, if no one questions the proposed direction for fear of being seen as difficult, the team may miss out on better alternatives. Over time, this creates a culture where new ideas are stifled and the same old approaches are recycled. This silence can paralyze innovation.

Overconfidence
When a team becomes overconfident in its decisions and fails to consider potential risks or alternative viewpoints, groupthink occurs.

For example, if a team moves forward with a major business decision—such as entering a new market—and everyone has a resounding “Let’s do it” without thoroughly analyzing competitors or customer needs, that’s overconfidence in action.

The belief that "we're doing everything right" can blind the team to weaknesses in their strategy and lead to avoidable failures.

Same voices, same ideas
If a few people are dominating conversations while others sit in silence, that's a red flag. Your team may be missing out on diverse ideas that drive innovation.

For example, in brainstorming sessions, when the same people push forward their ideas while others remain passive, the creative potential of the group is limited. This leads to fewer ideas being shared, which limits the team's ability to innovate and solve problems.

Recognizing these symptoms allows you to create an environment that welcomes diverse opinions. This ensures that your team remains dynamic, engaged, and prepared to tackle challenges from all angles.