Psychological Safety in the Workplace
Do you feel unseen and unheard in your workplace? Stuck with the feeling of being “unsafe” to share your thoughts and ideas? In this article, we tackle the what, the why, and the how of psychological safety in the workplace.
What is Psychological Safety?
Workplace psychological safety is a term that is used to describe a work environment in which employees feel safe sharing their thoughts and feelings. In order for psychological safety to exist, employees must feel that they will not be punished or criticised for expressing themselves. They must also trust that their colleagues will not gossip about them or use their comments against them.
Studies show that employees who feel psychologically safe and secure are more creative and productive since they do not fear for their jobs. Employers can also provide opportunities for employees to get to know each other better on both professional and personal levels. This will allow employees to communicate with each other more easily and quickly.
Why does psychological safety matter?
There are many reasons why psychological safety is important in the workplace. First, employees who feel safe psychologically are more likely to take risks and come up with innovative ideas. They are also more likely to speak up if they see a problem or have a suggestion. This is important because it allows for open communication and creativity in the workplace. Second, employees who feel safe psychologically are more productive. They do not fear retribution for speaking their minds, so they are able to focus on their work instead of worrying about what might happen if they make a mistake. Finally, psychological safety creates a positive work environment. Employees who feel safe and secure are more likely to be happy at work, which leads to lower turnover rates and less stress.
How to build psychological safety in the workplace?
There are a number of ways that employers can create a psychologically safe workplace:
Encourage open communication. One of the best ways to create a safe environment is to encourage employees to communicate openly with one another. This means not only communicating about work-related issues, but also personal matters. Employees who feel comfortable sharing personal information are more likely to feel comfortable speaking up about workplace issues.
Create a culture of respect. It is important for employers to create a workplace culture where employees feel respected.
Establish clear rules of conduct and enforce them consistently. Let employees know what is and is not acceptable behaviour, and enforce the rules fairly and consistently.
Employers should also foster a culture of trust. Employees should feel comfortable speaking up without fear of retribution.
Create an open environment. Employers can create an open environment by encouraging employees to ask questions and express their opinions.
Provide opportunities. Employers can also provide opportunities for employees to get to know each other better by holding team-building activities.
Promote communication tools. Employers can promote communication tools such as email, instant messaging, and chat rooms. This will allow employees to communicate with each other more easily and quickly.
Actively ask questions/solicit advice. For instance, if you are in a meeting and your team is arriving at an important decision, pause or stop your meeting to ask for questions, as different suggestions and considerations may not have yet been raised or asked for. And, count to ten in your mind before moving on. Often, internal processors may need more time to formulate their thoughts before voicing them, so train yourself to pause and encourage input.
Employers should take steps to ensure that their workplace is safe and healthy for employees. Need help with implementation? We’re here to help.
Remember, relationships are critical to the success, engagement, and psychological safety of individuals and teams at work. It is just as important to a team's capacity to provide honest, respectful feedback. Overall, they are also more likely to be engaged in their work and less likely to leave the organisation.
Benefits of psychological safety
Creating a psychologically safe workplace has many benefits for both employees and organisations.
Employees feel more engaged in their work when they feel safe expressing themselves and taking risks. They are also more productive, as they are not constantly worried about making mistakes or being criticised. Psychological safety allows employees to focus on their work, rather than on defending themselves from attack.
In addition, psychological safety can help to build trust among coworkers. When team members feel safe sharing their ideas and opinions, they are able to collaborate more effectively. This can lead to better problem solving and innovation.
Organisations that create a psychologically safe workplace also benefit from reduced employee turnover, as employees are more likely to stay with a company where they feel respected and supported.
But, of course, creating an open and psychologically safe workplace takes effort from both the employer and the employees. Just like in any form of relationship, it takes two to tango. It is a two-way street. Employers need to be proactive in creating a safe environment, and employees need to be willing to speak up when they feel uncomfortable.
Psychological safety is a critical component of the workplace. It’s been linked with better individual and team performance, less burnout, and fewer sick days. If you want to create a mentally healthy and safe workplace for your employees, consider implementing some or all of the steps we’ve outlined in this post. Not sure where to start? Our team can help. Contact us today to get started on creating a psychologically safe workplace for your team.
