Ferchi

Designate a devil's advocate. You can play this part (see "Ask smarter questions," above), but outsourcing it can be even more effective. "Assign a team or person to challenge the status quo," Steinbrecher says. "For instance, if reviewing policy changes during a staff meeting, someone (regardless of their beliefs) must take the opposite view and build a case against it." Just having someone covering your bases will help you make a well-rounded choice.