Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson The Psychology of Speaking Up with Amy Edmondson
Aug 19, 2025
Amy Edmondson, a Harvard Business School professor known for her groundbreaking work in psychological safety, shares invaluable insights on fostering open communication in high-stakes environments like cybersecurity. She discusses the importance of creating safe spaces where teams can speak up without fear, highlighting historical events like the Challenger disaster. Edmondson emphasizes leadership vulnerability, the dynamics of effective teaming during crises, and the need for a learn-it culture that embraces failures as opportunities for growth.
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What Psychological Safety Really Means
- Psychological safety means people believe their voice is welcome and can take interpersonal risks.
- It does not mean comfort; it means people expect speaking up is what we do here.
Treat Excessive Good News As A Warning
- If your team only reports green status, assume you're missing early warnings.
- Encourage raising small concerns because silence about bad news is itself a warning sign.
Personal Memory Of Challenger Launch
- Ann Johnson recalls watching the Challenger launch in college and the shock when it failed.
- That memory illustrates how silence and pressure can cost lives when people don't speak up.
