Summary
The crowd offers security, compliance, and acceptance. But it can also breed groupthink and moral hazard. Solitude brings clarity and integrity, yet often at the cost of isolation.
So, how do you decide?
Use this Conformity Checklist:
✅ 1. Context: Is this about Law, ethics, or strategy?
✅ 2. Risk vs. Reward: Will dissent create high risk with low benefit?
✅ 3. Stakeholder Expectations: Are Rules or Trust at Stake? Your responsibility is to consider this.
✅ 4. Certainty: Is your truth verified or speculative?
✅ 5. Time Horizon: Short-term survival vs. long-term innovation.
✅ 6. Ethics: Does conformity compromise core values?
Rule of Thumb:
Remember, conformity is rational when the cost of dissent outweighs the benefit of truth. This rule of thumb can guide you in making informed decisions.