How do you deal with groupthink and cognitive biases in brainstorming activities?

To counter groupthink and cognitive biases in brainstorming, it's crucial to foster an environment that encourages diverse viewpoints. Encourage team members to voice differing opinions, even if they contradict the majority. Implementing a "no criticism" rule during idea generation can also help. Cognitive biases can be mitigated by rotating the role of the "devil's advocate" among team members. This person's job is to question assumptions and challenge popular ideas. Additionally, anonymous idea submission can help eliminate biases. If you have any additional thoughts or contributions, please reply to this comment. I always appreciate and look forward to hearing more from you. Thank you!

To tackle groupthink and cognitive biases during brainstorming, promote diverse perspectives by encouraging input from all team members, setting clear objectives, and rotating leadership roles. Use techniques like Devil's Advocacy to challenge ideas and foster critical thinking. Employing tools such as mind mapping can visually organize thoughts and stimulate creativity. Utilize data-driven decision-making to counter biases, relying on evidence and statistical analysis. By creating a culture that values open communication, respects differing viewpoints, and prioritizes rationality over conformity, teams can mitigate the effects of groupthink and cognitive biases effectively.

Remember to focus on the outcome or result and work backwards to figure out the challenge or the problem. Clearly define the problem so everyone understands what they are trying to solve.

First, allow the team to reframe the problem so that they all start with the same understanding and clarity on what the actual challenge is.

Allowing individuals time to think independently before the group session can help surface unique ideas that might be suppressed during group discussions. This minimizes conformity bias and encourages diversity of thought. Encouraging anonymous idea submission allow team members to contribute without the fear of judgment or influence from others, which can reduce the impact of groupthink. It also prevents dominant personalities from steering the direction of the brainstorming session.

Clarity of rules and roles gives us the structure. Plus everyone knows what to expect and what is expected of them. Be open to listening to other people’s perspective.

Different tools and techniques helps you analyse the problem from different perspectives. Remember different perspectives will help you explore different options.

Para lidar com esse tipo pensamento no time, incentivo a diversidade de perspectivas e crio um ambiente onde todas as ideias s?o bem-vindas, independentemente de seu teor. Utilizo técnicas como brainstorming an?nimo e a metodologia de "pensamento paralelo" de De Bono. Além disso, fa?o perguntas abertas e encorajo a análise crítica, garantindo que todos os membros da equipe participem ativamente e que as ideias sejam avaliadas objetivamente. Dessa forma, mitigamos vieses e promovemos solu??es mais criativas e eficazes.

Use a methodology that inherently doesn't allow groupthink to happen, where all team members have the same possibility to participate and raise their ideas - like Lego Serious Play

In my experience People’s communication styles or personality profiles play a big role in how teams performs or handles a situation. Tools like DISC assessments help you build right groups covering different strengths.

Groupthink is usually a consequence of deeper challenges in the team. It is one of the signs that psychological safety is not high enough for team members to engage in healthy conflicts. If healthy conflicts are not possible, there will be no commitment, accountability, or team performance altogether. Don't focus on bypassing groupthink; focus on building trust and psychological safety so that groupthink doesn't happen in the first place!