Does Groupthink Hurt Your Productivity at Work?

"Groupthink: a mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group, when the members' strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action." -- Irving Janis, American research psychologist. "The tribe often thinks the visionary has turned his back on them. When, in fact, the visionary has simply turned his face to the future." -- Ray Davis, American motivational speaker and writer. Can working in an open office, engaging in brainstorming sessions, and contributing to a business team actually hurt your personal productivity? Excellent question, because all of the above—and many other group-oriented activities—are integral business practices in today’s companies. We've all experienced team-building … [Read more...]