Podcast 212: Creating a culture of psychological safety at work
Oct 8, 2024
auto_awesome
Amanda Potter, a Chartered Psychologist and founder of Zircon Consulting, joins Phil Lowe, a seasoned leadership coach, and Theni Paramaguru, Senior Advisor at CIPD, to delve into the importance of psychological safety at work. They discuss strategies for fostering open communication and collaboration, emphasizing resilience in leadership. The group examines the impact of organizational culture on employee well-being, especially in hybrid environments, and shares practical tips for enhancing trust and engagement within teams. Tune in for an insightful conversation!
Creating a psychologically safe workplace enhances individual and organizational performance by encouraging open communication, learning, and innovation.
Effective leadership is crucial in fostering psychological safety, as leaders must demonstrate openness, involve employees in decision-making, and model supportive behaviors.
Deep dives
Understanding Psychological Safety
Psychological safety refers to an environment where individuals feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, asking questions, and admitting mistakes without fear of negative consequences. Research indicates that teams with a low sense of psychological safety often face high levels of internal competition, which can suppress open communication and collaboration. For example, organizations focused solely on meeting key performance indicators may create environments where employees hesitate to voice concerns or innovative ideas. In contrast, a psychologically safe workplace encourages learning, innovation, and accountability among team members.
Impact of Leadership on Psychological Safety
Leadership plays a critical role in fostering psychological safety within organizations. Effective leaders demonstrate behaviors that promote openness, such as encouraging constructive feedback and actively listening to team input. For instance, leaders who involve employees in decision-making processes increase trust and autonomy, contributing to a sense of safety. Conversely, even well-intentioned leaders may unintentionally create unsafe environments by pushing for high performance without adequate support, fostering fear and tension among team members.
The Role of Workplace Culture
Workplace culture significantly influences psychological safety, affecting how employees perceive their ability to communicate and contribute. Cultures that prioritize blame and individualism can hinder open dialogue, whereas those that embrace collaboration and shared responsibility enhance it. For instance, industries like aviation have developed cultures that focus on learning from mistakes rather than assigning blame, leading to safer operational outcomes. This indicates that organizations should strive for a culture that values accountability and encourages employees to speak up without fear.
Practical Steps to Enhance Psychological Safety
Organizations can implement several strategies to improve psychological safety among their teams. Simple practices include regular recognition of employee contributions and creating opportunities for open dialogue outside formal meetings. Additionally, leaders can model desired behaviors by actively soliciting and valuing feedback in different formats, ensuring that all voices are heard. Ultimately, fostering psychological safety requires a consistent effort from leadership to demonstrate appreciation, attentiveness, and encouragement for risk-taking in communication.
It’s widely recognised that developing a psychologically safe working environment can significantly enhance both individual and organisational performance. However, while organisations seek to reap these benefits in the long term, the immediate challenge is to cultivate a culture of psychological safety from which these benefits can grow.
Join Nigel Cassidy and this month’s guests: Chartered Psychologist, podcast host and Founder of Zircon Consulting, Dr Amanda Potter; Leadership Coach, Phil Lowe; and Theni Paramaguru, Senior Adviser – Future of the People Profession at CIPD, as we explore how organisations can foster, measure and fundamentally maintain psychological safety in the workplace.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode