Psychological Safety: The Cost of Groupthink
Psychological safety refers to the belief that one will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up or sharing ideas in a workplace setting. It is a shared belief among team members that the team is a safe place to take interpersonal risks.
It's important in the workplace because it allows team members to feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, ideas, and concerns without fear of negative consequences, leading to better communication, more diverse perspectives, and ultimately to better decision-making and improved performance. This leads to a more productive, innovative, and engaged workforce.
What is Groupthink?
When individuals don't speak up, it can lead to a phenomenon known as groupthink. Groupthink occurs when a group of people make a decision without considering all options or perspectives. This can lead to poor decision-making and a lack of creativity.
The concept of groupthink was first introduced by psychologist Irving Janis in 1972 in his book "Victims of Groupthink." Janis conducted a series of case studies on historical events, such as the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis, in order to understand why groups of intelligent people made poor decisions. He identified several sources of groupthink, including:
Cohesiveness: Groupthink is more likely to occur in groups that are highly cohesive. When group members are highly committed to the group, they may be more likely to conform to the group's consensus and less likely to question or challenge it.
Leadership: Groupthink is more likely to occur when leaders are not open to dissenting opinions or when leaders are too directive. When leaders are not open to dissenting opinions, group members may be less likely to speak up and when leaders are too directive, group members may feel pressured to conform to the leader's views.
Lack of diversity: Groupthink is more likely to occur in groups that lack diversity. When group members are similar in terms of demographics, background, and experience, they may be more likely to have similar views and less likely to challenge the group's consensus.
Time pressure: Groupthink is more likely to occur when groups are under time pressure. When groups are under time pressure, they may be less likely to consider all options and perspectives and more likely to make a quick decision based on the group's consensus.
High-stress situation: Groupthink is more likely to occur when groups are in high-stress situations. When groups are in high-stress situations, they may be less likely to think critically and more likely to conform to the group's consensus.
What is the Cost of Groupthink?
There have been studies on the business cost of groupthink. One study found that groupthink can lead to poor decision-making, which can result in significant financial losses for organizations. The study found that groupthink can lead to a lack of creativity and a lack of critical evaluation of ideas, which can result in organizations making poor decisions, such as investing in unsuccessful projects or products.
Another study found that groupthink can lead to a lack of innovation and a lack of ability to adapt to change. This can result in organizations losing market share to competitors and ultimately facing financial losses.
Groupthink can also lead to a lack of accountability and transparency in decision-making. This can result in organizations not being able to identify and address problems in a timely manner, which can lead to further financial losses.
Additionally, groupthink can lead to a lack of employee engagement and motivation, which can result in a decrease in productivity, efficiency, and overall performance.
It's important for organizations to be aware of the potential for groupthink and to take steps to prevent it. This can include encouraging open communication, active listening, and creating an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are welcomed. Additionally, organizations can use techniques such as devil's advocacy and the nominal group technique to ensure that all ideas and perspectives are considered during decision-making processes.
Preventing groupthink and fostering psychological safety is important for not just avoiding potential costs, but also for creating a positive work environment and promoting creativity, innovation, and effective decision-making.
Pam Jackson, PhD designs and delivers corporate training and coaching for building high-performing teams, including topics such as diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging; communicating effectively; leadership at any level; and psychological safety. Contact her team to learn more and to book your training.
