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Hi Reader,

Continuing from last week’s article about problem solving without pants, I’d like to briefly talk about another situation that popped up while on my latest volunteering adventure.

Since my event was a weekend-long music festival, I needed a volunteer wristband. I showed up early to a big field, about ten minutes before the check-in tent was supposed to open, only to find a bit of chaos.

The tent was being repaired at the last minute, so tables were scattered outside and all the staff were busy helping the tent folks. Groups of volunteers were wandering about, unsure of what to do.

As more people arrived, the crowd just kept growing, with everyone bunching up in little clusters. At one point, a dad from a cute little volunteer family approached me and asked if I knew where the line was.

I told him I had no idea. He then asked if I’d mind if he started the line himself, and I told him to go for it. So, he and his family moved closest to the tent entrance, with the four of them in a row and me directly behind them.

Almost immediately, something amazing happened. All the scattered groups began to fall into place and form a line behind us.

This wasn’t just a handful of people. Almost a hundred people quickly and silently organized themselves behind us in a matter of seconds.

It was incredible to see everyone organize themselves so quickly, just because a single person decided to take the initiative.

The bandwagon effect

Afterwards, my curiosity got the best of me, so I did some research online. I discovered that what I witnessed is called “herd behaviour” or the “bandwagon effect.” Since I was at a music festival, I’ll stick with the term “bandwagon effect.”

It made me wonder; what if I had taken my own initiative and started a second line? Say I let the family form their line, then I stood alone in a separate one.

I suspect most people would still have lined up behind the volunteer family, simply following the crowd. That’s the essence of the bandwagon effect, as people tend to go along with the majority without much independent thought or questioning.

But what if my line was the better line? The one the festival staff picked first to get our wristbands?

Project bandwagons

Although I was surprised by what happened, I’ve realized that situations like these are common in my day-to-day work as a project manager.

When questions arise in projects, it can be tempting to simply go along with the majority and stay under the radar.

However, if you’re truly passionate about an issue and recognize a potential problem, speaking up can make a real difference.

I’ve seen team members who, by voicing their concerns against the crowd, have positively changed the direction of a project.

So, I’ll leave you with these questions: Who will you choose to follow? Or, instead, will you choose to start your own new line?

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