Building productive teams

Creating psychological safety at work

Key insights:

Psychological safety drives performance: Google’s research showed that teams with high psychological safety outperform others, emphasising the need for open communication. This showed that creating a supportive atmosphere can lead to better results.

The value of diverse ideas: In a knowledge economy, the input from various employees can lead to innovative solutions. When employees feel safe to express their ideas, organisations can leverage diverse perspectives for growth.

Fear of speaking up: Alarmingly, nearly half of employees in some organisations report feeling unsafe to voice their opinions. This fear can stifle creativity, ultimately affecting the organisation’s success.

Leadership accountability: Leaders play a vital role in establishing psychological safety. Recognising their own shortcomings can help them foster a more open and communicative work environment, encouraging employees to share their thoughts.

Role of apologies: A leader’s willingness to apologise for past behaviours that contributed to an unsafe environment can rebuild trust and encourage more open dialogue in the future.

Missed opportunities: Teams risk losing valuable insights and ideas if employees feel unable to share concerns or suggestions. Leaders must prioritise creating a space where all voices are heard to avoid missing game-changing opportunities.

Source

Edmondson, A. "Creating Psychological Safety at Work in a Knowledge Economy." YouTube, uploaded by benedictineCVDL, 7 July 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUo1QwVcCv0

benedictineCVDL

Helping left-brainers, think right™. I help creatives build businesses and businesses build brands.