Working with many different teams and organisations, we hear a lot about Psychological Safety, yet the term is often misused, misunderstood, or sometimes dismissed all together.

Considering the research that demonstrates how it is a vital predictor of organisational success, this needs to be addressed.

Psychological Safety, as originally defined by organisational behavioural scientist, Amy Edmondson, is…

“a shared belief held by members of a team that the team
is safe for interpersonal risk-taking.”

It is grounded in two key premises:

1. Individuals value and exhibit trust and respect with each other

2. Individuals are free from the fear of negative consequences in interpersonal risk-taking.

Underpinning all of this is the leader’s behaviour. Their role modelling of the above premises, create the system and environment for Psychological Safety to flourish.

Getting this right is fundamental to the difference between being a high performance team or a low performing team.

Until next week…