Clear Thinking Beats Groupthink

 

Clear Thinking Beats Groupthink

Most hiring mistakes do not come from lack of talent in the room. They come from bad communication and groupthink.
A quick story that stuck with me.

The Moment That Made It Click

Years ago, while working at ADP, I was in a bank in South Seattle when a robbery unfolded.

  • A man pulled a gun on a teller

  • No shots fired, thankfully

  • Security de-escalated the situation

  • The robber left

  • The FBI showed up within minutes

What happened next mattered more than the event itself.

 

What the FBI Did Right

The FBI did not gather everyone in a room to “align.”
They did the opposite:

  • Separated every witness

  • Collected individual accounts

  • Captured perspectives before they could influence each other

Why?

Because once people start talking together, accuracy drops.

  • Blue becomes black

  • Details get filled in

  • Confidence replaces truth

What This Looks Like in Hiring

The best companies I work with follow the same principle.
They do not rely on group debriefs alone. Instead, they:

  • Collect written feedback from each interviewer first

  • Use structured scorecards or questions

  • Capture opinions before discussion starts

This creates:

  • More honest feedback

  • Less bias from louder voices

  • Better signal on candidates

Why This Matters

Most hiring processes break down here:

  • Someone senior speaks first

  • Others adjust their opinion

  • The team “aligns” quickly

  • The wrong hire gets made confidently

Simple Fix

If you want better hiring decisions:

  • Get independent feedback first

  • Then discuss as a group

  • Be willing to challenge initial assumptions

Bottom Line

The goal is not agreement.
The goal is accuracy.

And the fastest way to lose accuracy is letting everyone talk before they think.

Tim Sprangers