How to create Psychological Safety
- Author: Ryan Jenkins
- Word Count: 365
Read the news article
Here are six ways to create psychological safety to re-engage and reassure today’s anxious, disengaged and lonely workforce.
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.
Amid the increased importance of workplace equality and allyship and the growing loneliness and isolation among virtual teams, it’s never been more critical that leaders create psychological safety among their teams.
Workers who feel that they can freely raise concerns, questions and ideas without repercussion are benefiting from psychological safety. Psychological safety pays off in increased creativity, trust and productivity among a team and is the single most important quality that determines a team’s success.
Here are six ways leaders can create psychological safety for their teams.
Psychological Safety
1. Listen to understand
Active listening is a hallmark trait of psychological safety. Too often leaders selectively listen for information that reinforces their view or strengthens their argument.
2. Speak last
When leaders share their thoughts about a topic and then ask for the team’s opinion, it’s too late.
3. Identify blind spots together
When leaders invite others into helping identify blind spots, it’s an admission to not having all the answers.
4. Productively address problems
Instead of blaming or expressing frustration when a team member brings up a problem, instead be appreciative of their insight and dedication to solving the problem.
5. Connect contributions to value
Humans have an innate desire for their contributions to be valued by the community. For centuries humans have found safety in numbers.
6. Switch video on and off
Seeing people’s faces during a video call can create engagement and provide helpful visual cues and non-verbal agreement.
Article written by Ryan Jenkins a Millennial generational speaker
However, 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.
Speaker Listing
Further articles you may enjoy:
- (21)
We’re thrilled to bring back our Speakers Inc Virtual Speaker Showcase in 2026 and this edition is proudly focused on spotlighting the exceptional speaker talent emerging from South Africa. This isn’t just another webinar. It’s a curated, high-production showcase designed to present dynamic speakers to the people who book them such as corporate event planners, […]
- September 30, 2025
- (7)
Duane Rockwell: The Ideal Atlanta Wedding Emcee and DJ When planning a wedding, one of the most crucial decisions you’ll make is selecting the right Atlanta Wedding Emcee and DJ. The individual you choose will set the tone for your celebration, ensuring everything runs smoothly and that your guests are entertained from start to finish. […]
- June 19, 2024
- (9)
Getting out of sync with a relatively new habit is easy. Getting back into the flow with that new habit is exceptionally hard. Stop Prospecting. Two habits I have started, stopped and restarted several times are daily writing and prospecting. So today, I’m going to write about prospecting… I’m not sure that counts as actual prospecting, […]
- December 18, 2022
- (7)
The Ultimate Guide to Speaker Bookings in the West End Entertainment in Los Angeles Introduction: Los Angeles, a city renowned for its glitz and glamour, is not only the entertainment capital of the world but also a hub for West End Entertainment in Los Angeles-style performances that captivate audiences with their mesmerizing productions. In this […]
- January 8, 2024
- (4)
8 Women to Celebrate this October (and Book) October invites reflection, celebration, and inspiration and here at Speakers Inc, we’re proud to showcase eight extraordinary women speakers who are helping shape the future across industries. Whether your event focuses on leadership, resilience, cybersecurity, inclusion, or AI, these thought leaders will bring insight, energy, and impact […]
- October 10, 2025
- (54)
Robotheism: The Rise of AI Worship and Its Implications for the Events Industry What happens when machines become more than tools—and start becoming gods? As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, a provocative trend has quietly emerged: Robotheism—the belief in or reverence of superintelligent AI as a higher power. What sounds like science fiction is steadily […]
- April 30, 2025
- (49)
Welcome to the Dunder Mifflin Leadership Wisdom, where we draw inspiration from the legendary antics of The Office’s Michael Scott, Jim Halpert, and even Dwight Schrute. While the show may be known for its hilarious mishaps and quirky characters, there’s an underlying theme that every leader can learn from: the importance of motivating your staff. […]
- September 20, 2023
- (27)
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
