Imagine doing the best work of your life. Follow the Work Better Project to learn more.

I loved WHAM!
I loved George Michael's vocals and sex appeal. I loved Andrew Ridgeley's poetic eyes. I was a swooning teen and Make it Big was the first album I bought.
Looking at the cover again now, I can feel the same angsty feelings I had then. I wanted to fit in so badly...
- with my grey Members Only jacket
- with my jeans "pegged" at the ankle
- with my oversized aqua sweater
Fitting in - and not being ostracized - is a timeless human desire, and it's at peak emo in middle and high school.
Our human longing to fit in can morph into a cognitive bias.
Bandwagon bias refers to humans' urge to belong and conform. It may cause us to think or act in a certain way if we believe others are doing the same.
Bandwagon bias has downsides. Your parents called it out when you were a teen asking, "If everyone else jumps off a bridge, will you, too!?"
When everyone thinks the same way - but it's flawed or shortsighted - it can be dangerous, even fatal. The movie Don't Look Up is a study in bandwagon bias and how painful it is to tell the truth when no one wants to hear it.
See: The Cognitive Bias Codex
One antidote to bandwagon bias is red teaming.
If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to our newsletter.

Rebecca Ryan, APF
Rebecca Ryan captains the ship. Trained as a futurist and an economist, Rebecca helps clients see what's coming - as a keynote speaker, a Futures Lab facilitator, an author of books, blogs and articles, a client advisor, and the founder of Futurist Camp. Check out her blog or contact Lisa Loniello for more information.
Three Keys to Get Unstuck and Ignite Innovation
Is your community or organization in need of a jump start? We have big problems to solve, but uncertainty, complexity, and fatigue can get in the way. Kate shares why and how Strategic Doing is the right tool to get unstuck and rebuild momentum.
The Creativity of Foresight and the Future of Creativity
A Q&A with Teva Dawson, Group Creative Services
The History and Future of Work in 3 Acts
“Nothing can happen for decades, and then decades happen in weeks.” - Scottish MP George Galloway Act 1: The Before Times Let’s accept that work has always been and...