Loads of research \u2013 prominently, the work of Amy Edmonson and her team \u2013 is bearing evidence to the importance of psychological safety. This important feature of a workplace is a prerequisite for innovation, team collaboration, quality work and a healthy workplace. It signifies a working environment where it is possible to state your opinion and talk about relevant ideas, where people feel free \u2013 or even compelled \u2013 to be open and honest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The term \u201cpsychological safety\u201d is becoming a term used almost as synonymous with trust, or with feeling personally confident to speak up. However, trust and confidence exist inside an individual person – psychological safety exists at the group or workplace level, and leadership\u2019s efficiency in sustaining the conditions for psychological safety is crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One example: encourage learning to avoid preventable mistakes, those that are due to lack of care and attention. To \u201cencourage\u201d means to REWARD, not just refrain from shaming. People making preventable mistakes should not be praised for their inattention (obviously) but for their willingness to come forward and admitting the mistake, enabling a process improvement to make sure this does not happen again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another example: Intelligent mistakes, exploring new ground, fueled by a willingness to take risks and to experiment, should be straight-up rewarded, even if the desired results are not materializing. (And yes, results should be rewarded as well, that\u2019s not the point).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Encouraging these behaviors will take a little bit of imagination but is totally doable. Modelling learning, asking for help as a leader, setting high standards and continuously talking about how to reach them, builds and sustains psychological safety where it belongs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Psychological safety is not about being friendly all the time; it has nothing to do with being introvert or insecure, and it\u2019s not about lowering the performance expectations. It is about removing the breaks that are holding people back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turning psychological safety into a matter of individual assertiveness bears resemblance to the way some companies deal with mental health and stress (\u201cit\u2019s personal\u201d). But it\u2019s not personal; sustaining psychological safety is a key requirement on contemporary leadership.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Loads of research \u2013 prominently, the work of Amy Edmonson and her team \u2013 is bearing evidence to the importance of psychological safety. This important feature of a workplace is a prerequisite for innovation, team collaboration, quality work and a healthy workplace. It signifies a working environment where it is possible to state your opinion … <\/p>\n