Can you imagine turning your back for one second on your 4-year-old only to find him lunging out the garage side door of your house?
In a flash, he grabs a broom, using the stick side to click the garage door opener. He then runs over to grab the lid of the garage door, allowing himself to be lifted to the top. Without hesitation, he jumps from the top of the garage, landing on his feet. As if that weren’t enough, he lifts himself up in a gymnastics pose and gives you a dazzling smile.
No? I can. Now, where does a 4-year-old get that kind of idea? His 8-year-old sister, of course. Did you know that little brothers will pretty much do whatever they are told by their big sisters?
Voices of authority can get us to act even if those voices are giving us bad ideas. Have you ever heard of the term “groupthink”? Groupthink happens when the pressure to conform within a group interferes with independent judgment and thinking. This means that people within a group may do and say things that may not be the best idea simply because they feel pressure from the group to conform. Their reasons may be job security, or they simply want to be liked.
There are many ways to avoid groupthink. What’s the best way? Seek advice from an outside independent voice who does not have a stake and/or will not benefit from the outcome — such as a member of The HR Team, of course!
-Eileen
