Meetings Make Us Dumber

When you're sitting through a board meeting, do you ever feel like saying, "Wow, thank you. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to you"? If so, it seems you're not alone. According to this MSNBC article, meetings make us dumber.

In a recent study, scientists showed participants a particular brand of soda and then asked them to list alternative brands. When working alone, participants consistently were able to list more soda brands than when working in a group – a blow to "group think" advocates.

In fact, some experts say group brainstorming sessions can actually stifle creativity rather than foster it. Like the old adage, "The squeaky wheel gets the oil," often the idea that gets repeated the most and the loudest is the most likely to be acted out even if it IS dumb.

Many creative thinkers need time and clarity to foster ideas. The more "brainstorms" that get thrown into the pot, the murkier their minds become and the more likely they are to just accept the general consensus rather than fight through the commotion in order to come up with a stellar idea on the spot.

While group meetings may be necessary for day to day operation of a company, it may be time for managers to rethink the idea of groupthink. A healthy alternative – each group member should first brainstorm on their own and then come together to discuss options as a group.