Breaking Free from Groupthink: Moving from "Our World" to "Our World Plus"
Brighton Chireka
Founder & Medical Director, DOCBEECEE Leadership Academy | Transforming Health & Social Care Leadership | Bridging Leadership Knowledge & Practical Skills | Championing AI in Healthcare & Strategic Co-Creation.
In many organisations, we can easily get stuck in a cycle of groupthink, where everyone thinks alike, and innovation gets stifled. We cling to the safety of what we know, avoiding risks because we fear failure. This "safe" approach might keep things running smoothly, but it often prevents growth and progress. We resist change, dismissing new ideas with the mindset of "not invented here."
How often have we heard or even said, "We’ve tried that before, and it didn’t work," without really listening to the full suggestion? This kind of thinking keeps us trapped in our world—comfortable, predictable, but ultimately stagnant.
It’s time to move beyond our world and into "Our World Plus." This means opening ourselves up to new ideas, solutions, and innovations from outside our usual bubble. Instead of just focusing on what we know, we should be asking:
One effective strategy I've found is to create idea sessions where everyone is encouraged to contribute without fear of having their ideas shot down. In these sessions, the goal isn’t to criticize but to build on each other’s thoughts. Anyone who speaks should do so with the intention of adding value, not dismissing someone else’s suggestion.
As leaders, it’s crucial to ensure that no one dominates these brainstorming sessions. Often, the best ideas come from the newest members of the team—those who may be hesitant to speak up. By fostering an environment where all voices are heard and valued, we can break free from the constraints of "our world" and expand into a world of new possibilities.
I humbly challenge everyone to step out of our comfort zones, embrace diverse perspectives, and transform our organisations by moving from "Our World" to "Our World Plus.
What are your thoughts? If this resonates with you, please like, comment, and share with your network.
HDE (Art), IMM (Sales Management)
6 个月Its not easy to change our mindset and allow for 'failure' but without expanding the failure circle, then the successes won't come Thanks for sharing
Chiltern Support and housing
6 个月Well spoken Tapiwa,I can confirm that because I was once at the place of being a new member of a Team and now I lead a Team because the opportunity was granted for me to speak and share ideas for what I had observed and what needed to be changed for the organisation to grow.
Love this: " Often, the best ideas come from the newest members of the team—those who may be hesitant to speak up. " This is so so true! It can be difficult to achieve but its so important to everyone a platform to share. Often the more confident / extroverted can dominate discussions without necessarily adding a corresponding level of value
Senior Consultant
6 个月"Our world plus" indeed that will keep organisations moving forward and in the right track to achieve their goals
CEO of Riverpath Care Ltd | Transforming Healthcare for vulnerable populations
6 个月Brighton Chireka thanks for the great article.