Five Ways to Improve Group Behavior

December 13, 2010 by Taylor Studios in Professional & Industry Tips

Have you ever gone along with something in order to not rock the boat? I recently read a short story about a family sitting on a porch on a hot Texas Sunday afternoon. This was before air conditioning. Someone piped up and suggested they all drive over 50 miles to have lunch. No one objects so they make the grueling trip there and home. Once home they all realize it was a terrible idea and they should not have ruined their afternoon on the porch getting in a dusty, hot car for a mediocre lunch.

Often people move to comfort instead of calling something out. We end up taking actions that contradict what we really want. In a business meeting you might see people go quiet, look down or jump to someone’s rescue. Maybe you go along with a business decision made long ago that doesn’t apply today because it’s easy to go with the flow. Going along to get along could be a very costly mistake in both human misery and economic loss.

How can this get along behavior be avoided?

Ask Why Several Times

Today I had a friend ask why we were sending our project managers to PMI training when our own process is clearly the key to our success. He knew this training was time consuming and costly and wondered if it would really get us what we want. I hadn’t really thought of WHY we were doing this training for some time. Asking WHY several times until you get to the bottom of what results you really want is an effective way to achieve better results.

Create a Common Language

The group that I shared the TX story with uses the question, “Are you taking a trip to Abilene?” when a group of people is moving toward something they do not want. Our Art Director, Jason, will say, “Let’s get the elephant on the table.” Sam, our Design Manger, uses the word BAMS (Basis Assumption Mental State) that she learned in a seminar on group dynamics. It doesn’t matter what terminology you use. The important thing is to come up with a comfortable way to call out issues in your group.

Assign a Devil’s Advocate

Make it a point to assign a devil’s advocate.

Encourage Confrontation

Instead of jumping to someone’s rescue when they are called out, let the debate happen. Avoid carefrontation and encourage a culture of heated debate. If there is no debate in your meetings you may be accomplishing very little.

Avoid Avoidance

If you go home and talk to your spouse about something or have a meeting after the meeting that might be a sign you are avoiding an issue that needs to be addressed. Address it.

Listen to Your Heart

My coach pulled out this Tom Petty song when I wasn’t listening to what my gut was telling me. If you get a funny feeling listen to it, don’t ignore it.

What is your go along story?