One of the downfalls I see in boardrooms is what Daniel Goldman calls “unanimous illusion.” Goldman defines this as a behavior that, once a group adopts a belief, individual members are likely to believe it is true.
All the more reason for directors to ask questions during board meetings on a broad range of topics of critical importance to their oversight role. This questioning can drive explicit conversations.
It takes courage to unveil painful truths. The board that balances a sense of unity with an openness to all relevant information can help to avoid group think. Remember – the collective mind is as vulnerable to self-deceit as the individual mind.
Questions directors might ask when reviewing their decision making process:
- Do we have an individual assigned to play the Devil’s Advocate?
- To what degree do we ask probing questions from a place of insight?
- Are we following a leader on the board with a very impressive background AND whose experience matches the decision at hand?
What questions would you add to this list?
Tracy Houston
Tracy E. Houston, M.A., is the president of Board Resources Services, LLC. She is a refined specialist in board consulting and executive coaching with a heartfelt passion for rethinking performance, teams and the boardroom. Her company, Board Resource Services, LLC, is online at www.eboardmember.com and www.eboardguru.com. You can follow Tracy on Twitter @BoardGuru. Headquartered in the Denver, Colorado area, Tracy is an avid hiker.
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