Summary: Groupthink is the human tendency to follow the opinion of the majority. This instinct can save time but can also lead us on the wrong path.
Have you ever encountered a situation when a senior member of your product team is overly optimistic or suggests a solution that is risky? You had some concerns about it but didn’t share them because it seemed like the majority was in consensus. Then the team ends up moving forward with a faulty idea without fully considering the true root of the problem or alternative solutions. This is an example of groupthink .
Definition : Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that propels well-intentioned individuals to follow the behavior or opinion of the majority and make suboptimal decisions for the sake of conformity.
Groupthink occurs when highly cohesive teams lose sight of individual thoughts and opinions. Dissenting ideas or disagreements are consciously avoided or unconsciously ignored because of the desire for unanimity and to maintain harmony.