Shake off the Abilene Dust

Abilene Suburb

Abilene is a dusty West Texas town made famous by the Abilene Paradox, a concept that describes how pressure to conform curtails critical thinking leading to a solution no one cares about. We can avoid Abilene Paradox poison by adhering to the following solutions:

Rattlesnake Photographed Near Abilene Representing Abilene Paradox Poison

Allow everyone to speak-up without fear of mockery, reprisals, or condemnation.

Encourage creative contributions through contrast.

Inspire objections by asking everyone to think critically.

To keep ideas concise spur contributors to write down their ideas before speaking.

To make ideas comprehensive use a flip chart to take notes thus allowing participants to elimate suggestion shortcomings.

Example of Flip Chart

Taking the solution/objection approach will open a smooth road away from Abilene toward success.