It’s back!!! IPWS Leadership Roundtable returned on Thursday, April 25th with one of the HOTTEST topics around … Psychological Safety!!!
We did not waste any time diving into the impact of psychological safety on team dynamics, emphasizing its crucial role in fostering inclusivity within the workplace.
As we began, we all agreed that we know every employee, at every level, wants to feel seen, heard, and respected. If we don’t feel safe, we can’t be our best selves or do our most creative work. This is why leaders must ensure psychological safety for everyone in their team.
Our Co-Facilitators, Nishtha Mehta and Curtis Baker, brought to life a scenario portraying a work environment lacking in a safety, to highlight on the harmful effects to all involved. These effects can stop an organization from success.
Everyone established the importance of ensuring that every individual’s voice is not only heard but also respected without fear of judgment. Together, the attendees brainstormed strategies to create safe spaces where people were willing to speak up and take risks, such as establishing communication techniques ensuring inclusion.
Open and Honest discussions revolved around the influence of feeling secure—or conversely, feeling inhibited—on both individual and collective performance. They candidly shared their own experiences of feeling stifled when unable to express themselves freely.
The team also emphasized that working in a psychologically safe environment does not mean that people always agree with one another for the sake of being nice. Psychological safety is not an “anything goes” environment where people are not expected to adhere to high standards or meet deadlines. Psychological safety enables candor and openness and thrives in an environment of mutual respect.
Overall, the event highlighted the significance of psychological safety in facilitating successful teamwork, leaving everyone inspired with actionable insights and takeaways to cultivate safer and more conducive work environments.
Resources mentioned for further research and to help with their strategies:
· “The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth” by Amy C. Edmondson
· The Psychological Safety Playbook: Lead More Powerfully by Being More Human by Karolin Helbig and Minette Norman
· Center for Creative Leaderships Psychological Safety
Following the event, several attendees reflected on their key takeaways:
“My personal takeaway is that it is not only up to the supervisor, but also up to us to create a psychological space for ourselves” – Kumiko
“Psychological safety in the workplace is a practice integrated into the work itself. It demands attention at the individual level, and each of us plays a role in DOING it. It’s a skill and mindset that can be improved upon, and numerous books and newsletters are available on the subject.” – Xixi
“Be accountable, take responsibility for reaching out to your supervisor or teammate if they do not give you feedback within the time you expected them to. Do not wait for them to take all the responsibility for getting back to you.” – Cveta
“Treat others the way you want to be treated.” – Lina
