Too much team harmony can signal trouble - management advice from Joiner Associates' 'The Team Memory Jogger' - Brief Article

Nation's Business, April, 1996

Beware of too much agreement among members of a work group---it can lead to bad decisions, according to a recently published book aimed at improving the performance of teams created to find ways for companies to do business better. The Team Memory Jogger was written by Joiner Associates, a consulting firm in Madison, Wis., that specializes in improving organizational effectiveness.

If everyone in the group automatically goes along with proposals, if alternatives are not offered, or if different perspectives are quickly dismissed, critical information probably is not coming to light. This situation may occur when the manager is a participant, when the group includes an overbearing expert who intimidates members, or when managers or supervisors discourage discussion about their areas of expertise or authority.

Some of Joiner's suggestions:

* Practice brainstorming regularly before discussing a course of action.

* Suggest that the group ask one of its members to be a devil's advocate, to raise objections to proposed solutions:

* Develop a list of criteria for judging proposals, and help the group systematically apply them to all options.

* Once an option is selected, discuss everything that could go wrong with that choice, and discuss ways to avoid risks.

The Team Memory Jogger offers practical tips for avoiding work-group problems such as conflicts, lack of focus, lack of follow-through, and uneven participation. The pocket guide, published by GOAL/ QPC, costs $7.95; call 1-800-669-8326.