Lori Adams-Brown: Unlocking Psychological Safety By Empowering Diverse Individuals for Workplace Impact

Oct 19, 2023

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If you're feeling frustrated and overwhelmed by the lack of collaboration and creativity in your team, despite implementing countless team-building exercises and brainstorming sessions, then you are not alone! Instead of the result you're looking for, you may be experiencing a stagnant workplace culture where employees are afraid to speak up and take risks due to a lack of psychological safety.

Lori Adams-Brown is not your average podcast host. With a background in global leadership and development, she's a true expert in the field of psychological safety in the workplace. Having worked with diverse industries and organizations, Lori understands the challenges faced by managers and leaders in creating a culture of inclusivity and well-being. What sets Lori apart is her genuine passion for making a difference. She's not just here to talk about psychological safety - she's lived it. Through her own experiences and encounters with individuals who have endured workplace bullying and toxic environments, Lori has seen firsthand the impact of psychological safety on employee well-being and overall productivity. Her expertise has taken her across the globe, training workshops and sharing insights from the Center for Creative Leadership. With her A World of Difference podcast, Lori aims to empower managers and leaders with practical strategies and tips to foster psychological safety and create a workplace where everyone can thrive.

Creating a culture of psychological safety is not just important, it's crucial for individual growth, innovation, and career development. - Lori Adams-Brown

In this episode, you will be able to:

Enhance workplace culture by fostering psychological safety and promoting a sense of belonging among your employees.
Gain fresh insights and innovative ideas by embracing diverse perspectives in your organization.
Increase productivity and employee satisfaction through a culture of open communication, where every voice is heard and valued.
Resolve conflicts in a constructive and respectful manner, fostering a positive and harmonious work environment.
Lead by example and create a safe space for your team to express their thoughts and ideas without fear of judgment.
Cultivate an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected, resulting in improved employee well-being and engagement.
Create a culture of psychological safety, allowing your team to take risks, collaborate effectively, and innovate.
Harness the power of diverse perspectives to drive creativity, problem-solving, and business success.
Foster open communication and transparency to build trust, strengthen relationships, and improve overall team performance.
Resolve conflicts in a productive manner, promoting healthy work relationships and maintaining a positive work environment.
Lead by example in nurturing psychological safety, cultivating an environment where individuals feel empowered to speak up and be authentic.

Embracing Diverse Perspectives

Innovation in the workplace thrives when diverse perspectives are not merely respected, but actively sought out. Employees from varying backgrounds bring unique insights and approaches, which can lead to breakthroughs in problem-solving and creativity. Encouraging diversity of thought supports a more inclusive work environment, drives growth, and reflects positively on the company culture.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

Visit www.betterhelp.com/difference to get 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp. This is a great resource for those who have experienced trauma in the workplace and need support in healing.
Check out the Center for Creative Leadership's website to learn more about their research-based content on leadership and development. They offer workshops and training programs that can help create a culture of psychological safety in your workplace.
Consider attending the Restore Conference to connect with others who have experienced workplace bullying and to gain resources and support for healing. This conference provides a safe space for individuals to share their stories and learn strategies for overcoming trauma.
Take the time to assess your own workplace and evaluate the level of psychological safety. Are there areas where improvement is needed? Consider implementing some of the tips mentioned in the LinkedIn Live session to create a more psychologically safe environment for yourself and your colleagues.
Educate yourself on the topic of psychological safety by reading books, articles, and research papers on the subject. This will help you gain a deeper understanding of its importance and how to promote it in your workplace.
Reflect on your own leadership style and consider how you can lead by example in creating a psychologically safe environment.

Psychological safety is the number one factor in team performance. It affects everything from well-being to productivity, motivation, and employee engagement.

- Lori Adams-Brown

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:02 - Introduction

00:01:36 - Importance of Psychological Safety

00:03:19 - Learnings from the Restore Conference

00:04:25 - Psychological Safety in California and Me Too Movement

00:08:17 - Introduction to LinkedIn Live Podcast

00:15:03 - Importance of Diversity of Thought

00:16:02 - Honoring Truth Tellers

00:17:59 - Learning from Failure

00:19:26 - Creating a Culture of Innovation

00:22:59 - Clear Communication

00:30:17 - Creating Systems to Eliminate Bullying

00:31:05 - Embracing Productive Conflict

00:32:17 - Norms Around Conflict Management

00:33:38 - Commitment to Psychological Safety

00:36:08 - Benefits of Psychological Safety

Leading by example is key. We must demonstrate vulnerability, admit our mistakes, and foster open and honest communication to create a psychologically safe workplace. - Lori Adams-Brown

Timestamped summary of this episode:

00:00:02 - Introduction

Lori Adams-Brown introduces the podcast episode and talks about her recent experience speaking at the Restore Conference in Chicago. She emphasizes the importance of psychological safety in the workplace and how it affects individuals across different industries and cultures.

00:01:36 - Importance of Psychological Safety

Lori reflects on her experiences in various workplaces and highlights the significance of psychological safety in creating healthy and productive work environments. She discusses the intersection of her work in tech and her previous experiences in non-profit, faith-based, and government organizations.

00:03:19 - Learnings from the Restore Conference

After attending the Restore Conference and hearing stories of workplace trauma, Lori shares the impact it had on her and the importance of providing resources for healing. She discusses the upcoming workshop she will be leading on "Listen to Understand" and how it contributes to psychological safety.

00:04:25 - Psychological Safety in California and Me Too Movement

Lori talks about the relevance of psychological safety in California, particularly in light of the #MeToo movement that exposed the psychologically and physically unsafe environments in Hollywood. She emphasizes the need to focus specifically on psychological safety and its connection to the overall well-being and growth of individuals and organizations.

00:08:17 - Introduction to LinkedIn Live Podcast

Lori introduces her LinkedIn Live session on psychological safety and invites viewers to join the conversation. She briefly mentions the importance of mental health awareness and shares that she will be providing 17 tips on creating psychological safety in the workplace.

00:15:03 - Importance of Diversity of Thought

Encouraging diverse perspectives leads to more innovative solutions and helps organizations stay relevant in a changing world.

00:16:02 - Honoring Truth Tellers

Organizations should show compassion and genuine curiosity towards those who speak up and challenge the status quo. Honoring truth tellers helps avoid blind spots and promotes innovation.

00:17:59 - Learning from Failure

Organizations should create an environment where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth. Openly sharing lessons learned from mistakes encourages psychological safety and innovation.

00:19:26 - Creating a Culture of Innovation

Organizations should establish spaces for new and out-of-the-box ideas. Leaders should be open to questioning and encourage risk-taking to foster innovation.

00:22:59 - Clear Communication

Clear communication helps build psychological safety and prevents misunderstandings. Listening to understand and promoting dialogue are important for effective communication in the workplace.

00:30:17 - Creating Systems to Eliminate Bullying

The importance of establishing systems that promote zero tolerance for bullying and provide clear guidelines for reporting and consequences is emphasized. It is crucial to create a culture where witnesses of bullying feel safe to report incidents to HR without fear of retaliation.

00:31:05 - Embracing Productive Conflict

The significance of fostering a culture of productive conflict is discussed. By setting expectations for psychological safety and promoting sincere dialogue and constructive debate, teams can work towards resolving conflicts in a productive manner. Seeking outside help may be necessary for organizations struggling with this.

00:32:17 - Norms Around Conflict Management

Questions to ask about conflict management norms within a team are provided. It is important to assess if conflicts are handled in a safe and respectful manner, and if there are any consequences for crossing boundaries. Encouraging open communication about process concerns is also vital.

00:33:38 - Commitment to Psychological Safety

Creating an environment where individuals feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, ideas, and concerns without fear of negative consequences is emphasized. Psychological safety requires commitment from all levels of an organization and is an ongoing process that contributes to employees' well-being.

00:36:08 - Benefits of Psychological Safety

The positive impact of psychological safety on employee well-being, motivation, innovation, and organizational growth is highlighted. A psychologically safe workplace allows for open questioning, decision-making, and improvement. Creating such an environment is crucial for employee growth and satisfaction.

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