What is one of the impacts of groupthink on team projects?

The phenomenon of groupthink often leads to decreased independent thinking among team members. In a groupthink scenario, individuals may suppress their own ideas and opinions in favor of maintaining harmony and consensus within the group. This suppression can occur because members fear conflict, ridicule, or rejection of their viewpoints, leading to a homogenous thinking pattern where alternative perspectives are not considered.

As a result, creativity and critical thinking suffer, and teams may overlook important information or make poor decisions due to the lack of diverse input. The urge to conform to the collective opinion reduces the likelihood that team members will evaluate choices thoroughly or engage in constructive debate. Thus, the impact of groupthink is particularly detrimental to the overall effectiveness of a team in generating innovative solutions or addressing complex problems.