Creating Psychological Safety in Leadership: To Build Trust and Empathy

“Psychological Safety isn't about being nice. It's about giving candid feedback, openly admitting mistakes, and learning from each other.”

Dr. Amy Edmondson

In today's rapidly changing and interconnected world, the concept of leadership has evolved beyond just giving orders and making decisions. Good leadership is increasingly centred around enabling psychological safety and encouraging trust and empathy within teams and organisations.

What is Psychological Safety?

Psychological safety is the sense of comfort and security that individuals feel within a group or team. It's about creating an environment where people are not afraid to voice their opinions, share their thoughts, or take risks without the fear of ridicule or retribution.

In simple terms, it's all about feeling safe to be yourself at work.

Imagine being in a meeting where you have an idea that could greatly benefit your team or company. In a psychologically safe environment, you would feel confident to express your opinions, knowing that your colleagues and superiors will listen attentively without judgment or fear of attack.

On the other hand, in a psychologically unsafe setting, you might hesitate to speak up, fearing criticism or negative consequences. This fundamental difference can have a profound impact on an organisation's success.

Why Businesses Value Psychological Safety

1 Trust Breeds Success

Imagine you're a circus performer about to attempt a daring tightrope walk without a net. You'd be terrified.

Now, picture yourself on that same tightrope, but this time, there's a safety net below. Your fear diminishes, and you can focus on your performance with confidence. In the workplace, psychological safety acts as that safety net.

When employees know their ideas won't be ridiculed and their concerns won't be dismissed, they're more likely to take calculated risks and push the boundaries of their creativity. Trusting their contributions are valued, they become more engaged, innovative, and motivated to excel.

2 Empathy Fuels Collaboration

Imagine you're at a party and spill your drink on a stranger. Instead of getting upset, the stranger laughs it off and starts a conversation about awkward moments.

You'd feel relieved. In the workplace, empathy serves a similar purpose.

Psychological safety encourages leaders and team members to relate to one another on a human level. It promotes an environment where people understand that everyone makes mistakes and faces challenges. This empathy strengthens relationships teamwork, and enhances overall well-being.

3 Learning and Growth Enables Continual Improvement

Learning from mistakes and constantly seeking improvement opportunities are essential to a thriving organisation. Psychological safety promotes a learning mindset. Leaders who embrace this concept encourage their teams to reflect on their experiences, both successes and failures and use them as stepping stones for growth and learning.

Imagine a workplace where employees are not afraid to make mistakes because they know their leaders view these mistakes as opportunities for growth. In such an environment, innovation and creativity are unleashed, as employees are free to explore new ideas without fearing failure.

4 Celebrating Successes Drives Motivation

Recognition and appreciation are vital for employee motivation and satisfaction. Celebrating successes in a psychologically safe environment becomes a natural part of the culture. Leaders acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of their team members, reinforcing a positive and supportive atmosphere.

Employees who feel valued and recognised for their efforts are likelier to be engaged and enthusiastic about their work.

This, in turn, leads to higher levels of productivity and innovation within the organisation.

A Comical Anecdote: The Office Espresso Machine Fiasco

To illustrate the power of psychological safety, let's dive into a humorous office tale:

Once upon a time, in a bustling office named PandaWorks Ltd., there stood an espresso machine.

This sleek, shiny contraption was the pride and joy of the office, churning out caffeine-fueled delights every day. However, there was a tiny problem—the espresso it produced tasted like burnt socks.

The employees suffered in silence for months, sipping their ghastly brews, secretly longing for the coffee shop across the street.

The leadership team, oblivious to this caffeinated crisis, praised the espresso machine.

One day, Jane, a coffee-loving hipster, decided enough was enough. She gathered her colleagues, took a deep breath, and shared her concerns about the dreadful espresso. To her surprise, her teammates chimed in with their grudges.

It turned out that they had all been suffering in silence, united by their love for good coffee and their fear of speaking up.

The team approached the leadership with their concerns and suggestions for improvement. The leaders embraced their feedback with open arms. They invested in better coffee beans, improved the machine, and even arranged barista training for the office manager. Within weeks, PandaWorks Ltd. transformed from a place of bitter coffee to a haven of aromatic delight.

This flighty story illustrates the transformative power of psychological safety. It took one brave soul to speak up, and the team followed suit, leading to positive change and a stronger camaraderie.

Developing Skills for Psychological Safety

Now that we've unravelled the importance of psychological safety, let's explore some actionable steps to incorporate it into your leadership style and promote it within your team:

1 Encourage Active Listening

Practice listening without judgment or rushing to conclusions during discussions. Make everyone feel heard and understood, even when their ideas differ from yours. This demonstrates that their perspectives are valued.

2 Build Trust through Honesty

Be honest and consistent in your communication. Honesty builds trust, and trust is the foundation of psychological safety. When people know they can count on your honesty, they will feel more comfortable being open in discussions.

3 Promote a Learning Mindset

Encourage a culture of learning and improvement. Ask team members to reflect on their experiences and identify opportunities for growth and development. This shift in mindset empowers individuals to embrace challenges and view mistakes as stepping stones to success.

4 Celebrate Successes

Acknowledge and celebrate both minor and significant accomplishments within your team. By appreciating contributions, you reinforce a positive and supportive environment that encourages everyone to give their best.

5 Address Conflicts Proactively

Conflict is natural, but how it's handled makes all the difference. Encourage open dialogue and provide a safe space for resolving disagreements respectfully. A conflict-resolving environment ensures that conflicts do not escalate but lead to productive solutions.

6 Continuously Improve

Remember that psychological safety is not a one-time effort but an ongoing process. Regularly adapt your approach to ensure your team members feel safe and supported.

‌So what?

Psychological safety is the secret ingredient that elevates good leadership to greatness. It empowers employees to speak up, share ideas, and contribute to positive change.

As illustrated by our office espresso machine fiasco, embracing psychological safety can lead to stronger teams, greater trust, and enhanced empathy—all essential to success in any business.

So, to take your leadership to the next level, consider making psychological safety your guiding principle and watch your team flourish.