What are the top 10 trends for the next ten years? Download the report here.
May 15, 2022
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, FRSA
Rebecca is a human spark plug. Her enthusiasm to create bold, inspiring futures is contagious. She's an economist and top-50 professional futurist. She's been named "Communicator of the Year" by Women in Communication, "Entrepreneur of the Year" by the U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship and has served as Resident Futurist at the Alliance for Innovation, the Association of Government Risk Pools, the Greater Omaha Chamber, and the Local Government Institute of Wisconsin. She's a keynote speaker, author and consultant with distinctions from the Association of Professional Futurists and the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. Rebecca's collaborative, creative approach to shaping the future has been trusted by leaders from over 200 communities, touching one in five Americans. Contact Lisa Loniello for Rebecca's keynote fee and availability.
Four Questions to Help You Think Bigger About the Future
Provocative questions are powerful. Here are four tried-and-true queries that help groups think proactively about their futures.1. Thinking back, what big ideas or opport...
December 4, 2025
6 AI Truths for Leaders (2025)
Hi, folks! In November 2025, I had an opportunity to offer my perspective on AI and its future. Here's the summary slide, followed by some commentary:...
December 2, 2025
Using Good Times Wisely: The Long Game
Prosperity isn’t a pause between challenges—it’s the moment when future-ready leaders invest in the systems, skills, and relationships their communities will need when cycles turn again.
December 2, 2025
