Psychological Safety: An Imperative for High-Performing Teams

Some of business’s greatest innovations originated from people willing to think out of the box and take a gamble on an “unlikely” idea.  Unfortunately, most of us find it a challenge to be open, think creatively, and take risks for fear of being criticized, judged, or even laughed at. That’s why psychological safety is a far more powerful tool than its name might suggest.    

This course will help you become familiar with the elements of psychological safety and how they relate to trust, high-performing teams and innovation. You’ll also learn how to apply psychological safety in your organization through a special capstone exercise. 

• Learn what comprises psychological safety, as well as the business imperative for it 
• Recognize the high-level science and research behind psychological safety 
• Enhance your understanding of healthy conflict and its value in fostering psychological safety 
• Experience how to build connection rapidly and with ease among team members 
• Gain more skill in utilizing courageous conversations 
• Recognize the mindsets and behaviors that impact psychological safety 
• Review case studies of organizations with high and low levels of psychological safety 
• Develop greater confidence creating environments that foster increased trust, belonging, and risk-taking, leading to higher levels of innovation, satisfaction, and performance 
• Practice using interpersonal skills to develop a climate of high psychological safety 
• Take ownership of supporting a culture of psychological safety 

• Defining psychological safety and discussing its benefits 
• Exploring the impact when psychological safety is not part of your team and organizational culture  
• Learning how remote and flexible work influence psychological safety 
• Discussing the people and business imperative for psychological safety 
• Exploring strategies to effectively engage all voices and manage diverse perspectives 
• Creating emotionally and socially intelligent practices to foster psychological safety 
• Identifying the behaviors that make us feel more psychologically secure 
• Influencing power structure drivers to develop a workplace of psychological safety  
• Exploring 3 crucial concepts in relation to psychological safety: trust, risk and vulnerability 
• Developing strategies for effective feedback delivery and healthy conflict management 
• Providing feedback to positively reinforce behaviors and celebrate success 
• Creating psychological safety in a virtual environment 
• Capstone Activity: Taking ownership of helping to develop a culture of psychological safety

Learning Objectives

• Define Psychological Safety and Its Core Components
• Understand the Importance of Psychological Safety to You, Your Team, and Your Organization
• Be Familiar with the Evidence Connecting Psychological Safety to High Performing Teams
• Build Skills in Managing Productive Conflict and Facilitating Powerful Workplace Conversations
• Explore How Leaders at All Levels Can Create a Climate Where Team Members Feel Safe Speaking Up
• Identify the Steps an Organization Can Take to Develop a Culture of Psychological Safety
• Practice Applying These Concepts to Create More Psychologically Safe Teams and Organizations

Psychological Safety and Why It Matters

• Define Psychological Safety
• Explore the Benefits of Psychological Safety on Individuals, Teams, and Organizations
• Identify the Risks That Exist for Employees Speaking Up and Corresponding Power Drivers
• Discuss the Impact of Identity on the Experience of Psychological Safety

The Science Behind Psychological Safety

• Discuss the Major Research Findings That Gave Psychological Safety Its Running Legs
• Identify the Physiological Reasons Why Psychological Safety Allows Talents to Thrive

Qualities that Enhance Psychological Safety

• Explore Vulnerability, Trust, and Candor as Qualities That Enhance Psychological Safety
• Establish the Importance of Social Emotional Intelligence in the Expression of These Qualities
• Discuss How a Virtual and Hybrid Environment Impact Vulnerability, Trust, and Candor

Productive Conflict and Powerful Workplace Conversations

• Explore the Difference between Productive and Unproductive Conflict
• Employ Conflict Resolutions Strategies in Teams and One-On-One Settings
• Identify and Practice the Core Communication Skill for Powerful Workplace Conversations

The Influence of Individual Leaders

• Describe the Role of the Leader in Fostering Psychological Safety on Their Team
• Consider the Relationship between Mindset and Behaviors
• Explore Five Ways Leaders Can Promote a Culture of Psychological Safety
• Identify Systems and Structures Local Leaders Can Implement to Support Psychological Safety on Their Team
• Learn Strategies for Increasing Employee Confidence

Creating an Organizational Culture of Psychological Safety

• Analyze the Drivers of Organizational Culture and Identify Strategies for Shaping a Culture of Psychological Safety
• Be Familiar with Examples of Organizations with High Psychological Safety
• Learn a Step-By-Step Approach for Building or Changing an Organizational Culture

Leadership Psychological Safety Exercise

• Practice Integrating New Leadership Behaviors to Shape a New Culture of Psychological Safety
• Prepare to Present Team Project Outcomes to Larger Group

Download Extended Seminar Outline PDF