Roberto Zamora, Jr., Ph.D.Have you ever sat in a meeting where everyone agreed to something, even though nobody seemed particularly enthusiastic about it?
Later, in separate conversations, you discover that almost no one supported the decision.
That is the Abilene Paradox:
Groups sometimes agree to decisions that no one actually wants.
Each person assumes everyone else is in favor. Nobody wants to create conflict or appear uncooperative, so everyone remains quiet.
The silence is mistaken for agreement, and the group moves forward with a decision its members privately dislike.
Agreement is not always alignment.
Sometimes it only means the first person who had doubts never said them out loud.
