Safety
Collaborations MD Karin Ovari presents a masterclass on Psychological Safety
What is Psychological Safety?
·
Psychological safety is a shared
belief that the team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking.
·
It is not simply about being
nice, but feeling comfortable about speaking up, making mistakes, and
challenging the status quo.
·
Psychological safety is
essential for high-performing teams and organizations.
There are four stages of psychological safety:
·
Uncertainty: People are unsure
whether it is safe to speak up.
·
Provisional: People start to
speak up, but they are still cautious.
·
Committed: People feel comfortable
speaking up and taking risks.
·
Regenerative: People feel safe
to speak up and take risks, and they are able to learn from mistakes.
There are several things that leaders can do to build
psychological safety:
·
Modelling vulnerability.
·
Creating a culture of trust.
·
Encouraging open communication.
·
Holding people accountable for
their actions.
Benefits of Psychological Safety
- Increased creativity and innovation.
- Improved decision-making.
- Reduced conflict and stress.
- Increased employee engagement and
satisfaction.
- Improved team performance.
How to Build Psychological Safety
- Model vulnerability. Leaders who are
willing to share their own mistakes and vulnerabilities create a safe
space for others to do the same.
- Create a culture of trust. When people
feel that they can trust their leaders and colleagues, they are more
likely to speak up and take risks.
- Encourage open communication. Leaders
should create an environment where people feel comfortable sharing their
ideas and opinions, even if they are different from the majority.
- Hold people accountable for their
actions. When people are held accountable for their actions, they are more
likely to take ownership of their mistakes and learn from them.
Conclusion
Psychological
safety is essential for high-performing teams and organizations. By following
the tips above, leaders can create a safe space where people feel comfortable
speaking up, making mistakes, and challenging the status quo.