Does it make sense to simply observe the group?
Effectively, typically it might find yourself main you to make unhealthy selections, simply because everybody else thinks it’s a good suggestion.
The bandwagon impact is a cognitive bias the place folks undertake sure behaviors, kinds, or attitudes just because others are doing so.
It is because of people being a social species the place it is smart to be a part of the group, and due to this fact not desirous to threat that belonging by doing one thing the remainder of the group just isn’t doing.
One of the crucial well-known examples is the Asch Conformity experiment, the place a big proportion of individuals in a gaggle would intentionally give the incorrect reply to a query, simply because the opposite members of the group all additionally gave the incorrect reply first.
Additionally it is an environment friendly heuristic from an evolutionary perspective. If everybody in your group is adopting a habits or perception, it implies that habits or perception is:
- Protected: Unlikely to be so harmful that additionally believing it would put you in danger
- Helpful: Working properly sufficient to deliver a profit to the group, in any other case they might not imagine it within the first place
In consequence, as a substitute of utilizing the precious time and vitality to course of and analyse whether or not each thought or habits is sweet or not, our mind typically simply trusts the knowledge of our in-group and follows what everybody else is doing.
Whereas this bias is thought to have a big affect on issues like politics, sports activities and style, it might probably even have a huge impact on innovation and artistic groups.
Internally inside an organization, it’s common for workers to assist concepts and initiatives that are already well-liked, particularly these supported by leaders with extra authority. This will result in a concern of doing issues which rock the boat, and consequently many corporations are filled with initiatives designed to please the bottom widespread denominator and really please no one.
Exterior of an organization, innovation groups are additionally too typically “impressed” by what everybody else within the startup area is doing and desirous to do their model of it. Basically, they’re making an attempt to get on the innovation bandwagon, whether or not or not that wagon goes within the strategic route which is smart for his or her firm.
In spite of everything, what number of corporations wish to develop their model of “An Uber for canine“, “An Airbnb for confidential paperwork” or “A Web3 blockchain-based AR video-productivity AI”?
Lastly, simply because different folks like one thing, it doesn’t imply that you simply or your staff want to love it as properly.
Creativity entails you creating one thing which your personal particular person viewpoints and emotions in it.
As an alternative of making an attempt to simply produce one thing as a result of it seems to be well-liked on the time, typically it’s extra rewarding to make one thing distinctive and extra aligned with what you actually imagine.
So whereas it’d take extra vitality, it’s at all times value asking your self earlier than you and your staff start on a brand new thought or challenge: Is that this one thing which we simply see everybody else doing and believing, or is that this one thing we really imagine in?
Creativity & Innovation knowledgeable: I assist people and firms construct their creativity and innovation capabilities, so you possibly can develop the subsequent breakthrough thought which prospects love. Chief Editor of Ideatovalue.com and Founder / CEO of Improvides Innovation Consulting. Coach / Speaker / Creator / TEDx Speaker / Voted as one of the crucial influential innovation bloggers.
