If safety is one of your core values, is your workplace psychologically safe?

Does your company have safety as a core value? Does that encompass psychological safety?

Traditionally safety as a core value has reflected physical safety, your people going home safe at the end of every shift. Now that the concept and benefits of having a workplace that is psychologically safe are more understood, its time to include this as part of your values and your daily practices.

Psychological safety and good communication go hand in hand

Psychological safety refers to an individual's perception of being able to express themselves without fear of negative consequences, such as embarrassment, rejection, or punishment. Effective communication, on the other hand, involves the exchange of information, ideas, and feelings in a clear, respectful, and constructive manner.

A quick run down of some of the benefits:

1. Encourages Openness: Psychological safety creates an environment where individuals feel comfortable speaking up, sharing their thoughts, ideas, and mistakes. When employees feel psychologically safe, they are more likely to engage in open and honest communication, leading to increased collaboration and improved problem-solving.
2. Facilitates Feedback: Psychological safety is essential for giving and receiving feedback. Feedback plays a crucial role in our growth and development, but it can be challenging to provide or receive if individuals are not sure how the other person will react. When psychological safety is present, feedback becomes a tool for improvement, supporting a culture of continuous learning that leads to peak performance.
3. Enhances Teamwork: Effective teamwork relies on open communication and trust. Psychological safety encourages team members to freely express their ideas, ask questions, and challenge assumptions without fear of ridicule or criticism. It creates a culture where everyone feels valued and respected.
4. Promotes Innovation: Psychological safety is closely linked to creativity and innovation. When individuals feel psychologically safe, they are more likely to take risks, share innovative ideas, and think outside the box. Effective communication channels and platforms that facilitate idea-sharing and constructive discussions further enhance this process.

How do you get started with psychological safety?

First ask do your leaders understand what psychological safety is? Can they speak to the concept with their team?

Incorporating psychological considerations into safety values recognises the critical role of human behavior and mental well-being in creating better outcomes for your people. Making psychological safety part of your day to day conversations increases awareness around some of the barriers that may exist in your people feeling that their environment is safe to speak up and engage.

Try these 3 tips to help you and your team get started:

1. Leadership commitment is crucial. Leaders actively demonstrating and communicating their support for open dialogue, vulnerability, and learning from mistakes sets the tone for the rest of the organisation.
2. Conduct workshops and training sessions to educate your people about psychological safety is and why it is important. Raise awareness about its benefits, how it positively impacts teamwork, innovation, and overall well-being. Help employees understand the behaviours that support psychological safety and that everyone's contribution matters.
3. Establish Ground Rules: Create clear ground rules for respectful and inclusive communication. Encourage active listening, empathy, and open-mindedness. Empower every employee to address any behaviours or language that don't align with the ground rules.
4. Encourage Active Participation: Actively encourage people to share their thoughts, opinions, and ideas. Encourage quiet individuals to contribute by specifically inviting their input.
5. Model Vulnerability: Leaders and managers should lead by example by displaying vulnerability through sharing personal experiences, mistakes and failures to demonstrate how they've grown and learned from those experiences. By showing vulnerability, leaders create an environment where others feel safe to do the same.

Think of all the times during a single day where you talk about safety.

How can you include one of these tips in those conversations to create a more psychologically safe space for your team?