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:
- (12)
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) has become an indispensable tool for corporate transformation, particularly in enhancing sales and productivity. By automating routine tasks, personalizing customer experiences, and deriving actionable insights from vast datasets, AI provides companies with a competitive edge, fostering growth and improving operational efficiency. Boosting Sales through AIAI empowers […]
- October 25, 2024
- (9)
The 4 Types Of People You Need On Your Leadership Team can be related to this powerful book, Think Like A Monk, I believe Jay Shetty gives us a reason why we so often feel let down by those we look to as we grow as leaders. He writes, “We tend to expect every person to be a […]
- December 22, 2022
- (61)
Why Felicia Pizzonia Is the Sales Speaker Your Next Conference Needs In today’s competitive market, sales isn’t just about closing deals, it’s about understanding human behavior, adapting your mindset, and building authentic connections. That’s exactly where Felicia Pizzonia excels. A best-selling author, dynamic entrepreneur, and sought-after keynote speaker, Felicia brings a powerful blend of science-backed […]
- May 15, 2025
- (7)
Unlocking Event Success: The Power of Speakers Inc Mobile App for Keynote Speakers, Event Emcees, and Entertainers Organizing a successful event requires meticulous planning, and one crucial aspect is securing the right keynote speakers, event emcees, and entertainers who can captivate the audience. In the digital age, where efficiency is key, mobile apps have emerged […]
- January 29, 2024
- (27)
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes: How Mallory Brown Redefines Humanitarianism with Empathy and Action When you think of a humanitarian, you might picture someone delivering aid, raising funds, or advocating loudly for change. Mallory Brown does all of that—but she does it differently. She shifts the spotlight from the “problem” to the “person,” using […]
- April 25, 2025
- (59)
Speakers Inc International is a Professional Speakers Bureau, based in San Diego. Speakers Inc has branches in USA and Southern Africa. We were started a little over 24 years ago by Bronwyn. Our mission is to help our clients find the best, most suitable SPEAKERS for their particular conference or event. We represent South Africa’s […]
- January 2, 2023
- (11)
A Corporate Event Not Built Around a Speaker – They’re Just an Add-On Rethinking the Role of Speakers in Corporate Events For years, the keynote speaker has been viewed as the defining element of corporate events. But let’s face it: in today’s rapidly evolving business world, successful events are not structured around a single person […]
- February 26, 2025
- (17)
A Guide to Becoming and mastering the art of Speaking. Public speaking is an art form that, when mastered, can open doors to limitless opportunities. Whether you’re an aspiring keynote speaker or looking to enhance your communication skills, the journey to becoming a professional public speaker involves dedication, continuous learning, and a commitment to connecting […]
- November 14, 2023
