In the room where it happens: How diversity of thought makes organizations smarter

Why is it important to have diversity of thought in the room when decisions are being made? Diverse ideas can help you avoid groupthink, increase the potential scale for insights, and let go of the idea that there is only one right way to solve a problem.

But how does this make teams smarter? Let's explore. 

Getting used to ambiguity

One of the benefits of diversity of thought is that it makes us more comfortable with ambiguity and changing course. This is because when we see things from different points of view, we have to face the fact that there might not be just one right answer. And that's all right! In fact, it's a must if you want to innovate. By being okay with uncertainty and changing directions, we open ourselves up to new options and ways of thinking that we might not have considered before.

This also keeps teams from falling into the trap of thinking like a group, while also making it easier for them to find new ideas and opportunities.

When everyone in the room looks or sounds like you, it's time to get a bigger room and invite more people in.

What is groupthink, exactly?

Groupthink is a phenomenon that occurs when people in a group come to a consensus without truly considering all options. This can lead to subpar decision-making because individuals may not feel comfortable voicing dissenting opinions. As a result, the group as a whole may not be exposed to different ways of thinking about an issue. 

Increasing diversity of thought helps stop groupthink by making sure that multiple voices are heard and varying points of view are taken into account. This, in turn, makes it more likely that new ideas and solutions will come up.

It's important recognize that there is more than one right way to solve a challenge. When we're presented with multiple perspectives, we're able to see that there are multiple ways to approach a problem. We can then choose the solution that makes the most sense for us, rather than feeling like we have to do things one specific way.

Create a learning culture

Is your enterprise a learning culture? Making sure that different voices are heard creates a culture in which people actively try to learn from each other. This is because when we see things from different points of view, we can learn more about the world around us. We can also see things from different perspectives and learn new skills that we might not have had the chance to learn otherwise. We can only learn this way if we are willing to be open to different thoughts and ideas.

Summary

To make progress, diversity of thought is essential. By being okay with uncertainty and changing directions, we open ourselves up to new options and ways of thinking that we might not have considered of before. Also, when people are enabled to bring different ideas to the table, it fosters an environment in which individuals can learn from each other.

However, we can only learn this way if we are willing to be open to different thoughts and ideas and build systems to enable more voices to be heard. We should all try to make a place where different ways of thinking are welcomed and encouraged.