Dissent is valuable even when it’s incorrect

You can put all the thought diversity in the world in place at your workplace. It will be useless unless your team leaders understand how to spot and diffuse groupthink.

Groupthink stems from our strong human desire to belong and conform. The problem is that groupthink overwhelms critical thinking and good judgement. When a team is mired in groupthink:

– People hesitate to share new ideas. 
– People feel anxious about sharing candid feedback.
– People look to the group leader for signals regarding how to think and behave. 

Studies show that dissent stimulates everybody’s thinking, so encourage it, even when you think the dissenter is dead wrong. 

How do we create a culture where dissent is appreciated and where people dare to speak up?