The Hidden Issue: a Groupthink Exercise

“The Hidden Issue”

Purpose: Reveal whether your group tends to avoid dissent or suppress alternative viewpoints in favor of quick consensus.

How It Works:

1. Present a Controversial Scenario: Share a decision-making scenario related to your team or project that has at least two clearly different viable options, one of which has a hidden flaw or risk.

   
   

2. Ask for Initial Reactions: Give the team some time (5–10 minutes) to discuss and decide on the best option.

   
   

3. Introduce a New Perspective: After the initial decision is made, introduce new information or a critical viewpoint that challenges the group’s choice.

   
   

4. Observe the Group’s Response:

   • Does the group openly reconsider their decision?

   • Do members discuss the new information thoughtfully?

   • Or do they dismiss or ignore the challenge to maintain harmony?

   • Is anyone reluctant to speak up or criticize?

   
   

5. Debrief: After the exercise, discuss how the group handled dissent and whether there were signs of pressure to conform or self-censorship.

What This Reveals: If your team quickly dismissed the new perspective or pressured dissenters to stay silent, it’s a strong indicator that groupthink might be present.