Avoiding Conflict, The Abilene Paradox

There is a dynamic that seems like a smooth path, but leads to bumpy results – the Abilene Paradox is this dynamic.  So what is the Abilene Paradox?  It is when healthy debate and outcomes are foregone in place of conflict avoidance.  Basically it is putting consensus above positive outcomes and productivity.

Interestingly, the Abilene Paradox can leave a group with an outcome that no member would have recommended on their own, and not in a good way.  The path of the Abilene Paradox leads to pluralistic ignorance and obviously that is no good for the individual participants, group or organization.