Psychological Safety: 3 top tips and why you should care.
Psychological safety is a vital component of workplace culture that has gained recognition in recent years due to the extensive research demonstrating its benefits. It refers to a work environment in which individuals feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, ideas, and opinions without fear of negative consequences. Studies have shown that promoting psychological safety in the workplace can lead to higher performance, better decision-making, increased engagement, and improved well-being.
But don’t just take our word for it, check out some of the key benefits found from the research below:
Improved team performance: According to Google's Project Aristotle, teams that felt safe to take risks and be vulnerable with one another had a 50% higher likelihood of being high-performing teams.
Increased employee engagement: In a Gallup study, employees who felt psychologically safe were 70% more likely to report that they were engaged in their work.
Better mental health outcomes: In a survey of over 2,000 employees, researchers found that those who felt psychologically safe in their workplace were 76% less likely to experience burnout than those who did not feel safe.
Enhanced organizational learning: According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Behavioural Science, organizations with high levels of psychological safety were 10 times more likely to have a culture of learning and innovation than those with low levels of psychological safety.
Reduced turnover: In a study of healthcare workers, researchers found that those who perceived a higher level of psychological safety were 54% less likely to report that they intended to leave their job within the next year.
Research shows that when psychological safety is present in the workplace, employees are more likely to speak up and contribute to discussions which leads to more effective problem-solving and decision-making. It encourages innovation and risk-taking and is positively associated with creativity, as individuals are more likely to take risks and experiment with new ideas when they feel safe to do so. This could be the competitive advantage an organisation needs to thrive and dominate.
In addition to these benefits, psychological safety also promotes trust and well-being in the workplace. Employees who feel psychologically safe are more likely to build strong relationships with their colleagues and feel supported by their team. This, in turn, can lead to increased job satisfaction and a greater sense of fulfilment.
If we want high performing, individuals, teams and organisations, we need to be nurturing a culture that promotes this. But every business is different and how we get to the end result will look different for all of us. Maybe it’s a light touch for managers and associates to keep in mind, maybe we need to roll out a more deliberate learning initiative, or maybe we have to acknowledge that we’re looking at a complete culture overhaul. Coaching can be a great way to support the creation of psychological safety in the workplace by helping individuals and teams develop the skills and mindset necessary to build trust, communicate effectively, and collaborate with one another. A coach supports individuals to foster a growth mindset, value vulnerability and development emotional intelligence.
If coaching isn’t a viable option for you right now. Here are top 3 tips to foster phycological safety in your organisation:
1. Encourage open communication styles by actively seeking out and valuing diverse perspectives, acknowledging mistakes, and encouraging feedback.
2. Find ways to create a culture of experimentation and learning by rewarding risk-taking and providing opportunities for employees to try new things.
3. Lead by example: actively demonstrate the behaviours and attitudes that foster psychological safety. This includes being transparent, vulnerable, and empathetic, as well as actively seeking and incorporating feedback from others.
In conclusion, psychological safety is crucial factor in creating a positive work culture and promoting high performance. In order for organisations to thrive in the VUCA world they’re operating in and sustain a competitive advantage, they need to be making this a cultural priority. Coaching is one great way to do this and we’d encourage you to try a free Spinach session, to feel the benefits first hand and see how you could be giving high quality coaching to people at every level of your organisation.
