10th Man Rule

The 10th Man Rule is a decision-making strategy where, if all members of a group agree on a particular course of action, it becomes the responsibility of the 10th person to challenge that consensus and explore alternative possibilities. This practice helps prevent groupthink by ensuring that different perspectives and potential risks are considered, even when the majority seems to be in full agreement. It's a vital tool for maintaining sharp, comprehensive decision-making.

While it can be uncomfortable or unnatural to go against colleagues or the mainstream, that’s precisely why it holds such value. In today’s interconnected and globalized world, where uncertainties abound, and our collective resilience is often stretched, fostering this type of challenge is more important than ever.

Some teams naturally include critical thinkers, and as a manager, it’s your role to cultivate a safe environment where individuals feel trusted and encouraged to express their views. Agreeing to disagree is always better than shutting out dissenting perspectives, and it can lead to valuable learning experiences, as seen in phenomena like Cassandra’s Syndrome, where warnings are ignored until it’s too late.

What brought this to mind for me today is the 9/11 memorial, and specifically the story of Rick Rescorla.

Rick Rescorla was the Head of Security for Morgan Stanley, which occupied 22 floors in the South Tower of the World Trade Center. When the first plane struck the North Tower, standard emergency protocol from the Port Authority advised everyone to stay put. This guidance was based on previous crisis, such as the 1993 WTC bombing. Despite these official instructions, Rescorla immediately ordered the evacuation of the building. Seventeen minutes later, the second plane hit the South Tower while his evacuation plan was in full effect.

Thanks to Rick Rescorla’s leadership, critical thinking, and refusal to succumb to what could be called "negative panic" (the impulse to freeze, deny danger, or trust authority without question), 2,687 employees and 250 visitors survived. Rescorla, American Hero, was last seen heading back up the stairs to help others and tragically lost his life, along with 13 other Morgan Stanley employees, including four members of his security staff.

Rick’s actions are now studied in schools and universities worldwide, including within Morgan Stanley itself. His story serves as a case study in how to avoid groupthink, understand negative panic, and balance obedience with independent judgment.

Remembering 9/11 we honor Rick Rescorla's legacy and the importance of fostering critical thinking in decision-making, even when it means challenging the status quo. We honor the 9/11 victims and their families, along with the first responders and all those who showed resilience in the face of this tragedy.

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