Psychological safety is a crucial factor in creating a healthy and effective workplace. It involves a shared belief that the team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking. This episode delves into the intricacies of psychological safety, particularly in high-stakes environments like medicine. We explore how rigid hierarchies, cultural biases, incivility, and unrealistic expectations can hinder psychological safety and how fostering a culture of openness and vulnerability can lead to better team performance and resilience. We explore various strategies to enhance psychological safety, including setting clear expectations, modeling vulnerability, and showing gratitude. Finally, we provide actionable tools for leaders to create a psychologically safe team environment.

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Guest Bio: Kim Bambach, MD  is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at The Ohio State University and Assistant Director of the Kiehl Resident Wellness Endowment 

We Discuss:

• What is “psychological safety”?
• Google's Project Aristotle
• Why psychological safety is important, even on a SWAT team
• Threats to psychological safety
• The Korean Air Crash of 1997
• Contributors to trainees feeling psychologically unsafe
• Collegiality between specialties and its impact on psychological safety
• The Psychological Safety Scale
• Six key leadership behaviors to create a culture of psychological safety

Mentioned in this episode:

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5 Free Tools To Make Medical Practice Easier

Scripts for your least favorite conversations. The quick and dirty guide to calling consults. A 10-minute "Driveway Debrief" to switch off from work. My favorite documentation templates. Step-by-step guide for delivering the news of death.

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