Final answer:
Power differentials create barriers to communication between leaders and followers by fostering an environment where followers might be reluctant to speak openly. Authoritarian leadership often exacerbates these barriers, while democratic leadership encourages more open communication. Strategies to overcome groupthink include seeking outside opinions and withholding the leader's viewpoint until discussions are complete.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the given options, power differentials serve as a barrier to communication between leaders and followers. Power differentials can create an environment where followers may feel intimidated or less inclined to share their honest opinions and concerns. This dynamic can lead to a lack of open communication and may prevent important information from reaching leaders, which could affect decision-making and organizational success.
Further examining the types of group leadership and their impact on communication, authoritarian leadership features a top-down communication pattern that may reinforce power differentials and hinder open dialogue. On the other hand, a democratic leadership style encourages participation and tends to have more open lines of communication.
Barriers such as groupthink can also suppress open communication about collapse possibilities due to the desire for consensus, which often results in the disregard of alternative viewpoints and the quashing of dissenting opinions.
To combat the challenges posed by groupthink, strategies such as seeking outside opinions, voting in private, and withholding the leader's position statements until all members have voiced their views are advised to ensure a more effective group decision-making process.