Three Skills Leaders Can Practice to Promote a Culture of Psychological Safety
Psychological safety is a key ingredient in all teams.
What is psychological safety? It is the belief that one will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes. The benefits in work culture include increased inclusivity, employee engagement, creativity and innovation, productivity, and wellbeing and decreased employee turnover. In healthcare, it is also critical for patient safety and in fostering a healthy learning environment.
The attached article outlines three skills leaders can practice to create a culture of psychological safety:
Transparency – regularly sharing the “big picture,” including explaining the WHY behind decisions
Vulnerability – sharing your own limitations, missteps, and failures
Championing your team – publicly and privately, and letting team members know that you always have their back
Of the three, vulnerability is probably the most important. Contrary to popular belief, the best leaders don’t have all the answers all of the time. In fact, admitting your own limitations opens up the space for everyone else on the team to admit their limitations as well. Shared vulnerability fosters an environment where individuals can feel safe to express their needs, ask for help, and ask questions.
