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Alfred P.Sloan, the former CEO of General Motors, presents a nice contrast. He was leading a group of high-level policy makers who seemed to have reached a consensus. “Gentleman,” he said, “I take it we are all in complete agreement on the decision here…..Then I propose we postpone further discussion of this matter until our next meeting to give ourselves time to develop disagreement  and perhaps gain some understanding of what the decision is all about.” Herodotus, writing in the fifth century B.C. reported that the ancient Persians used a version of Sloan’s techniques to prevent groupthink. Whenever a group reached a decision while sober, they later reconsidered it while intoxicated.

Excerpted from‘Mindset’ by Carol S. Dweck