Avoiding groupthink: how can boards make better decisions?

While an awareness of personal bias is helpful, you also need to take active steps to counter it.

As well as affecting your ability to make good decisions, it can lead to groupthink. Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that can emerge in any group, but boards are particularly prone to it. It happens when people seek consensus and mutual approval, shying away from challenge and different perspectives. In boards, this can result in directors hiding their true beliefs to avoid challenging the majority opinion.

This can be hugely problematic as going along with the group can lead to poor decision-making.

Before completing this step, watch this this short video where John Browett gives his thoughts on the dangers of groupthink.

You can reduce the risk of groupthink by practicing steps like:

• slowing down your decision-making to reduce the impact of any instinctive reactions
• involve others in the decision-making process to actively challenge you. For example, think back to the quiz you took at the start of this activity – Roger, the CEO, could have invited others into the interview process or asked for HR help in reviewing candidate interview notes
• practice empathy so that you can consider and engage with other people’s perspectives and experiences
• ensure psychological safety exists so directors feel confident about offering a different opinion
• where possible, make time for everyone to express their views.