343. How to disagree at work (without taking a chair to someone's head), with Rt Hon Steve Baker and Paul Dolan

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week we explore how to build a team that can disagree safely before things blow up, what to do when tension boils over, and how to create a culture of "tolerance by design."

We are joined by two guests who disagree on almost everything: Steve Baker (former Conservative minister, Brexit negotiator, and aerospace/software engineer) and Paul Dolan (Professor of Behavioural Science at the London School of Economics and author). Despite their political differences, they teamed up during COVID lockdowns and founded The Provocation People, a consultancy helping organisations break out of groupthink.

What We Cover in This Episode

Why Silence is More Dangerous Than a Row

Companies like Kodak, Blockbuster, and HBOS fell victim to groupthink, proving that a quiet room where everyone nods along is actually a major red flag.

The Question Every Leader Should Ask

Steve shares the exact question he used to close meetings: "Has anything not been said because it would be inconvenient to me?"

How to Handle Dissent

Employees watch how you treat dissenters outside of meetings rather than inside them, making real-world follow-through essential.

Hiring for Culture Fit vs. Culture Challenge

Hiring for "culture fit" often leads to hiring for agreement, whereas leaders should focus on introducing true diversity of thought.

The EMBRACE Framework