The 10th Man

The 10th man. The one to disagree regardless of the plan. The 10th man is the way to have a plan B ready to go. If 9 men agree to the plan, then it’s the 10th man task to say “no” and come up with an alternate plan.

Adopting this mindset will push against groupthink and the conventional views of the rest of the team, and challenge the initial plan. It will push the team to have invaluable discussions, allowing for the exploration of different perspectives, identifying potential issues, and uncovering solutions, while also providing a solid backup plan. Designate someone on your team as the "10th man", whose role is to continuously consider alternative approaches. Over time, this practice will lead to stronger plans and become an instinctive part of your team's process.