Silent (DIS)Agreements: the Abilene Paradox
How often are you present during meetings when decisions are made that, if you could read minds, no one truly agrees with?
Far too often, and despite unvoiced doubts, everyone nods in agreement, fearing conflict or assuming others know better.
The Abilene Paradox, a recurring phenomenon within teams, is a silent killer of productivity. Its aftermath is marked by wasted resources, unnecessary work, team-wide frustration, and a pervasive sense of insignificance among team members.
Just like navigating with a broken compass, decisions are made without reliable input or accurate information. Teams get perpetually off course or lost! Organisations defeat the purposes they are trying to achieve.
By confronting this paradox, teams can ensure that decisions are aligned with genuine beliefs and collective objectives, preventing misaligned actions and resource waste. Ignoring the signs of the Abilene Paradox can lead to dissatisfied employees, inefficient operations, and decisions nobody supports.
“The inability to manage agreement, not the inability to manage conflict, is the essential symptom of a dysfunctional organisation.” Jerry B. Harvey
Next Steps
Ready to break free from the Abilene Paradox and make more effective collective decisions? Contact me for a personalised discussion on how your team can navigate this challenge.
Schedule a free 30-minute exploratory discussion with Desley Lodwick here.
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