The truth about psychological safety

  • Author: Dr. Todd Dewitt
  • Houston, TX, USA
Read the news article

People love to talk about #1 PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY.  It’s defined as a belief that it’s okay to speak up with ideas, questions, or concerns without fear of negative consequences.  I love this concept.  We need more of it in practice.  It speaks to the contextual foundation for creativity and innovation.  However, it’s in short supply in many workplaces.  I think I know why.

We should be talking more about fear instead of safety.  Yet we don’t because fear seems somehow taboo or unsavory.  It’s easier to talk about safety.  But we must talk about fear.  We fear failure, job insecurity, looking dumb, being evaluated or criticized, change, retribution, harassment, and so on.

To establish enduring psychological safety, we must get to the root cause of most of these fears.  Why do they exist?  We experience these fears due to differences in personalities, bad bosses, uncertainty about job security, a lack of work-life balance, and other issues.

Common prescriptions for establishing #1 PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY include setting proper expectations, leaders modeling needed behaviors, spelling out norms for mistakes and failures, more listening, voice in decision-making, etc.  These are all great ideas – that do not address the root cause of fear.

As diverse as the causes of fear might be, it’s clear there are two main paths forward if fear is our target.

The first is to focus on improving employee wellbeing and #1 PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY.  This is about addressing the context and resources that shape the employees’ environment.  This refers to initiatives around employee assistance programs, career development planning, encouraging proper breaks and downtime, exploring work flexibility, and expanding access to all things healthy (e.g., helpful apps, nutritious food, exercise spaces).  It also means an unrelenting opposition to toxic behavior in all its forms.

The truth about psychological safety

The second involves how we hire, socialize, and develop leaders through #1 PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY.  This is about improving how leaders interact with their employees.  Historically, when we look for leaders we look for job competence.  That part will always matter.  In addition, we’re learning that an equally important component of leadership success is compassion.

Effectiveness is found where competence meets compassion.  Functional/task/process/tech knowledge must be surrounded by empathy, kindness, and understanding – that’s compassion.

To be clear, fear can never be fully eradicated – but it can be considerably reduced.  #1 PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY can be, on average, stronger than fear.  That’s when innovation becomes a normal part of the culture.

TODD’S TIPS

Which is the best strategy for starting your workday?  Go for a quick win with an easy task to gain momentum or work on one of your truly difficult but more substantive tasks?  Answer:  go for the big tasks! We all know that sometimes our brain works very well and other times it struggles.  The best strategy is to start with the most substantive and strategically important work you face.

If you’re able to make progress – great!  If not, time for a quick win.  Grab one of those comparatively easier tasks and knock it out.  Then refocus once again on something that truly matters.  Some work moves us forward and some is just work that must be done.  I say go big or go home.

WHAT’S UP WITH DR. D?

Speaking: Next stop – Fort Worth, Texas.  I’m excited to speak live in-person this week to the senior sales leadership team at TTI, a major global distributor of electronic components.  It’s a Show Your Ink keynote followed by thirty minutes of Q&A with me and fifty of their top leaders.

READ FULL ARTICLE ON LINKEDIN

Contact us at Speakers Inc and follow us on Twitter

Further articles you may enjoy:

  • (17)

Empowering Voices: Celebrating Women’s Month San Diego 2024 In the vibrant city of San Diego, Women’s Month serves as a poignant celebration of the resilience, achievements, and contributions of women across diverse fields. As the month unfolds, what better way to honor this spirit than by highlighting and celebrating the impactful Women’s Month keynote speakers […]

  • March 4, 2024
  • (12)

Olympic bobsledder, Johnny Quinn is a highly sought-after speaker for businesses and organizations of all sizes. He has been featured on: ABC, BBC, CBS, CNN, ESPN, FOX, NBC, TIME, USA Today and in The Wall Street Journal. Known for his thought-provoking and action-packed speeches, Johnny has spoken on some of the biggest stages, such as: Toyota, Chick-fil-A, Cisco, Wells Fargo, Southwest Airlines, Zillow, LiftMaster, Fiserv and Lockheed Martin. His […]

  • December 20, 2022
  • (66)

Elizabeth McCormick’s journey to becoming a renowned speaker is rooted in her remarkable career in the military. As a Black Hawk Helicopter Pilot, she faced challenges and triumphs that shaped her into the inspiring leader she is today. Rising through the ranks to become Chief Warrant Officer 2, Elizabeth honed her skills in leadership, resilience, […]

  • June 24, 2024
  • (12)

Last month, something happened to me at an event that hasn’t happened in well over a decade and How to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking.  I wish it were something cool like audience members throwing money and candy at me as they cheered “Bravo!” and “Encore!”  But that’s never happened, and probably never will.  […]

  • January 12, 2023
  • (9)

Transforming Mindsets: How Motivational Speakers Fuel Personal and Professional Growth In a world defined by rapid technological advances, shifting global markets, and increasingly competitive work environments, cultivating the right mindset has become more crucial than ever. Organizations and individuals alike are discovering that technical knowledge and hard skills alone are not enough to navigate ever-evolving […]

  • January 6, 2025
  • (47)

Mastering the Art of Emceeing: A Guide to Making Your Mark as a Great Host Introduction: The role of an emcee goes far beyond simply introducing speakers and keeping the event on schedule. A skilled emcee has the power to captivate an audience, set the tone, and elevate the overall experience for everyone involved. Whether […]

  • January 7, 2024
  • (59)

Wildlife motivational speakers are unique in the world of keynote speakers. They draw from the wonders of nature and their experiences in the wild to inspire and motivate audiences. These speakers often possess backgrounds as conservationists, wildlife experts, adventurers, and environmentalists. Their messages are not only about protecting the planet but also about leadership, resilience, […]

  • August 15, 2024
  • (11)

Unlocking Success: The Power of Booking Top Keynote Conference Speakers in San Francisco Introduction: Conferences play a pivotal role in fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional development. Choosing the right keynote speakers can significantly impact the success of an event. In the vibrant city of San Francisco, California, renowned for its innovation and diverse industries, […]

  • January 22, 2024

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected:

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

We use Brevo as our marketing platform. By submitting this form you agree that the personal data you provided will be transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with Brevo's Privacy Policy.

Our Mission:

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2025.  Designed using Voxel