Go back to previous page

THE SAFETY NET NEEDED

Author: Ryan Jenkins

Reading time: 5 min

Word Count: 972

Read the news article

How much could your team accomplish if they felt safe they couldn’t fail with a SAFETY NET?

In San Francisco on January 5th 1933 construction began on the Golden Gate Bridge. The chief engineer assigned to the project was Joseph Strauss. Bridge building was extremely dangerous back then and the industry norm was one construction worker would die for every million dollars spent on the project. Considering the high price tag of $35 million to build the Golden Gate Bridge, Strauss was committed to radically reducing the potential loss of life.

Even with immense pressure to finish the project on time and under budget, Strauss invested what would be $2,779,480 in today’s dollars to install a safety net. At that time, it was the most elaborate and expense safety device conceived for a major construction site. The net was strung underneath the entire length of the bridge and extended ten feet on each side of the workspace so that it protected everyone. It resembled the safety nets underneath acrobats that you see today.

“On the Golden Gate Bridge, we had the idea we could cheat death by providing every known safety device for workers,” Strauss wrote in 1937 for The Saturday Evening Post.

On April 28th 1937, Strauss and his team completed the construction of the tallest and longest suspension bridge in the world. They completed the project ahead of schedule, the safety net was said to have increased productivity by 25%, and the construction of the bridge cables was done at a rate four times faster than had been considered possible.

During construction, 19 men accidentally fell into the safety net, collected themselves and then got back to the work. Because of the safety net, workers weren’t focused on their safety but rather their success. Thus productivity and performance soared.

Today’s healthiest organizations find a way to have concurrent commitments to human dignity and performance. They don’t sacrifice the well-being of employees for high performance. They also don’t sacrifice performance to bend to every need of their employees. They strike a balance like Strauss did.

Strauss was a safety pioneer. His efforts set new standards for workers physical safety. The strides made since 1930s to keep workers physically safe has been remarkable. The next safety frontier for leaders to consider is the psychological safety of their team.

Your team likely doesn’t fear death when they arrive at work, but they do fear failure, rejection, burnout, isolation, and other invisible threats.

The brain is always searching and seeking safety. No matter if workers are scaling tall bridges or preparing expense reports, in their gut, down their spinal column and in the deepest recesses of their mind lingers the most fundamental question of humanity. It’s the question the brain is asking five times per second of every day beyond our conscious awareness. The question is, “Am I safe?”

Much like how the Golden Gate Bridge workers experienced more success when they felt safe, when your team feels safe their freed to focus on loftier goals. The unconscious safety alarm in their head is quieted and they can finally show up fully to work not focused on survival but success.

What does safety look like for your team?

One invisible aliment that today’s workers need a safety net for is loneliness. According to my research of over 2,000 global workers, 55% of workers say they experience loneliness at least weekly; with 72% saying at least monthly.

Loneliness not only hinders worker’s health but their performance as well. Lonely workers are 7x more likely to be disengaged at work, 5x more likely to miss work, and 2x more likely to think about quitting. Currently lonely workers have no safety net. They are falling further and further into isolation.

Humans are social creatures. We have a deep desire to be accepted, cared for and involved in meaningful community. These desires were (and continue to be) essential for our survival. Our ancestors who roamed the plains, lived in tribes where becoming separated or banished from the tribe made survival unlikely. Our brains still function the same way at work, when we feel excluded, we become vulnerable and feel unsafe.

Loneliness is invisible, and there is no tangible safety net you can install to catch team members descending into isolation. The safety net comes in the form of psychological safety and creating a connectable culture where people feel comfortable to connect with each other.

The mental health resource workers want most is a more open and accepting culture. Essentially they want psychological safety… a place where they feel that one’s voice is welcome with bad news, questions, concerns, half-baked ideas, and even mistakes.

Teams can be lonely places. People can feel vulnerable and exposed if they believe their teammates don’t support their ideas or appreciate their work. These interpersonal struggles intensify for remote workers who lack the support of a nodding ally across the table in a meeting.

It’s challenging for leaders to create psychological safety because by virtue of their role they have power, and power is a barrier to psychological safety. In order to counterbalance the weight of their powerful role, leaders have to go out of their way to intentionally and strategically build psychological safety. Luckily this safety won’t cost you $2,779,480 like it did Strauss.

When workers feel psychologically secure and protected, their need for belonging is fulfilled and thus loneliness is lessened. Leaders who create psychological safety among a team also reap benefits much like Strauss:

12% increase in productivity
27% reduction in turnover
40% reduction in safety incidents

Just like the 19 bridge workers who bounced back from their falls, lonely workers can rebound out of isolation when the psychological safety net is in place.

Want help creating a more connected workforce? Check out Ryan’s latest Wall Street Journal Bestselling book: Connectable.

Was this article helpful?

Further articles you may enjoy:

Leadership Hack

Leadership Hack: How Sticky Notes Can Help Your Career Sticky notes have been my savior. And I don’t mean in a “don’t forget the milk” kind of way. True, sticky notes are great for grocery lists, but what I’m talking about here is how a few small squares helped me become a better leader, and […]

December 19, 2022

(16)

The Hidden Bias in Speaker Lineups

Diversity in Speaker Lineups has become a buzzword in the event industry. Conference organizers, corporate summits, and industry panels all claim to be making strides toward inclusivity. Promotional materials showcase smiling, multicultural speaker lineups. But beneath the surface, a difficult question remains: Are events truly diverse, or are we just witnessing performative inclusion? Despite increasing […]

February 5, 2025

(26)

Being A Leader Is A Choice Not A Title

Do you have to be a manager or executive to Being A Leader? No! Leading others is a choice. It isn’t about your title. Many people with executive titles are terrible leaders, and many people without a fancy title are outstanding leaders. More than your title, being a leader is about influencing change and inspiring […]

December 13, 2022

(59)

No Legs No Limits: The Unstoppable Rise of Kanya Sesser

Kanya Sesser’s life story is a testament to No Legs No Limits and the power of resilience, determination, and self-belief. Born without legs and left outside a Buddhist temple in Pak Chong, Thailand, her journey from abandonment to becoming a celebrated athlete, model, and actress is nothing short of extraordinary. Early Life and Adoption In […]

April 2, 2025

(28)

Unique Speaker Bureau International

Speakers Inc is your Unique Speaker Bureau International in today’s fast-paced world, where the success of an event hinges on delivering impactful and memorable experiences, event planners require a partner who understands their needs inside and out. Enter Speakers Inc, the Unique Speaker Bureau International and ultimate solution for sourcing world-class keynote speakers, emcees, and […]

October 9, 2024

(23)

Building Unbreakable Mental Strength

Hi, I’m Zion Clark. My journey has been filled with challenges that have tested my limits physically, mentally, and emotionally to Building Unbreakable Mental Strength to Overcome Life’s Challenges . One thing I’ve learned through it all is that mental strength is what separates those who give up from those who keep pushing forward, no matter […]

November 3, 2024

(15)

Elyse Archer: The Sales Speaker

Elyse Archer: The Sales Speaker Rewriting the Rules of Success In the ever-evolving landscape of sales, where trust, authenticity, and personal branding have become non-negotiables, event planners are constantly seeking voices that cut through the noise. Enter Elyse Archer—a globally recognized speaker whose magnetic stage presence and actionable strategies are redefining what it means to […]

May 6, 2025

(40)

The Great Debate in Event Planning

The Great Debate in Event Planning – Virtual, Hybrid, or In-Person? The event planning industry is buzzing with controversy: is the future of events virtual, hybrid, or in-person? As technology continues to evolve and attendee expectations shift, planners face the challenge of choosing formats that balance innovation, accessibility, and impact. This debate is not just […]

January 20, 2025

Scroll Up

THE SAFETY NET NEEDED

Further articles you may enjoy:

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected: