How Good Written Communication Can Combat Groupthink

A business forms a group of employees to create a new plan to reduce money spent on production and only one member speaks up about an idea, yet the group decides to pursue that idea rather than exploring other options from other members. This is an example of groupthink that happens in business and group work often. Groupthink is a situation when group members blindly follow the authoritative voice of the group without question; indeed, this is a way to bandwagon onto someone else’s idea to escape making a decision. I do not think that good written communication can combat groupthink by itself, but perhaps attempting to direct the conversations into through provoking conversations and build a safe environment for the group might help combat groupthink.

Too little communication can cause just as many problems as too much communication because not all communication is beneficial to the common goal. Some group members may feel that they need to conform to be accepted as part of the group and so they do not question or criticize the idea of the authoritative voice. Another issue that accompanies lack of verbal communication is the ability to overlook ethics, or known as looking the other way. This is a symptom of groupthink as members are able to blindly follow the rest of the group even when their own ethics or morals are being challenged. Members need to feel safe in the group environment in order to speak without fear, but in a friendly manner. As a group it is important to create that safe group environment and give each other a sense of personal safety to prevent groupthink from being a