Psychological safety: a workplace more innovative, successful, and attractive.
Psychological safety is a term that is often used in the business world, but what does it actually mean? Simply put, it refers to the degree of comfort or discomfort felt by employees within their workplace environment. In other words, it's the level of trust between team members.
A workplace that fosters a high level of psychological safety will see employees who are more comfortable taking risks, speaking up with new ideas, and offering constructive feedback.
On the contrary, a workplace that lacks psychological safety will see employees who are more likely to stay silent, avoid taking risks, and stick to the status quo.
Why is psychological safety so important? Well, research has shown that teams with a high level of psychological safety are more likely to be innovative and successful. They're also more likely to attract and retain top talent. So how can you create a workplace environment that fosters psychological safety? Here are a few tips:
1. Encourage open communication. Make sure that there are channels for employees to openly communicate with each other, without fear of retribution. This could include things like regular team meetings, one-on-one check-ins, and an open-door policy.
2. Promote a culture of feedback. Encourage employees to give and receive feedback freely. This will help to create a more open and honest workplace where people feel comfortable sharing their ideas and thoughts.
3. Encourage risk-taking. Create an environment where it's okay to take risks. Encourage employees to experiment and try new things. This will help to foster a culture of innovation.
4. Show your appreciation. Make sure to show your appreciation for employees who do take risks and come up with new ideas. This will help to create a positive feedback loop and encourage more risk-taking in the future. Creating a workplace that fosters psychological safety can be a challenge, but it's well worth the effort.
A psychologically safe workplace is more likely to be innovative, successful, and attractive to top talent. So if you're not already, it's time to start creating a psychologically safe workplace for your employees.