As a leader, your goal is to create an optimum balance between consensus and conflict. You want people to get along and achieve stated objectives, but you also want them to speak up when they need to, even if their message is unwanted or controversial. Most communication strategies focus on creating agreement and harmony, but in this latest issue of CGA Magazine, I shift attention to the opposite end of the spectrum. I take a closer look at the negative workplace phenomena known as The Abilene Paradox and Groupthink, and offer some practical ideas to facilitate productive disagreement in the workplace. Read the entire article here.
What specific things are you doing in your department or organization to discourage instances of the Abilene Paradox and groupthink?