26 Jul Fostering Psychological Safety In The Workplace
With the pandemic altering the landscape of work and sending millions to work from home, psychological safety remains a top priority as many stay working remotely.
It’s important to foster an environment where employees feel safe, respected and valued.
What is Psychological Safety
According to author Shane Snow, psychological safety is knowing that the things you say and do won’t be used against you — as long as you mean well.
Consider this: what if some team members don’t feel comfortable speaking up? What if they’re afraid to be transparent or hold back on asking challenging questions? What if they avoid suggesting innovative ideas because they’re worried about being shot down or had a leader who had no interest in progressing or trying anything new?
This type of environment could affect their career, mental health, and the organization as a whole.
Tips to Instill Psychological Safety
- Create space for new ideas: Ensure you are fostering an environment that promotes out-of-the-box thinking and idea sharing.
- Be engaged: Be open-minded, compassionate, and willing to listen when someone is brave enough to say something challenging the status quo.
- Embrace productive conflict: Productive debate should be promoted. It’s best to talk through different points of view to reach the a solution.
- Continue to build trust: “positive interactions and conversations between individuals are built on trust. Give your team members the benefit of the doubt when they take a risk, ask for help, or admit a mistake. In turn, trust that they will do the same for you.”
By understanding the importance of psychological safety in the workplace, you can begin to foster it and become a more successful team.
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