10 Mar 2025
Have you ever been in a meeting where you hesitated to share an idea, worried it might sound silly? Or avoided admitting a mistake because you feared the consequences? If so, you’ve experienced what it’s like not to have psychological safety. But what exactly is psychological safety, and why does it matter for workplace culture, leadership, and team performance? What Is Psychological Safety? Psychological safety is the belief that you can speak up, take risks, and admit mistakes—without fear of blame or embarrassment. It’s about fostering a work environment where people feel valued, heard, and empowered to contribute their best ideas. Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson coined the term while researching hospital teams. Interestingly, she found that the best teams didn’t necessarily make fewer mistakes—they were just more open about discussing them. This willingness to share and learn led to better teamwork, innovation, and overall success. “It’s felt permission for candor.” – Amy Edmondson You can read more about her insights in the Harvard Business Review article: What Is Psychological Safety? Why Does Psychological Safety Matter in the Workplace? Research, including Google’s Project Aristotle, shows that psychological safety is the most important factor in high-performing teams—more important than skills, experience, or team structure. When employees feel psychologically safe, they: ✔️ Share ideas openly, leading to more creativity and problem-solving ✔️ Learn from mistakes instead of hiding them ✔️ Feel engaged and valued, improving morale and retention ✔️ Make better decisions, because diverse perspectives are welcomed Without psychological safety, teams risk low engagement, high stress, poor decision-making, and a fear-based culture—none of which lead to long-term success. How Can Leaders Create Psychological Safety? Building a psychologically safe workplace doesn’t happen overnight, but leaders can take practical steps to create a culture where people feel supported and empowered: ✅ Encourage openness – Ask questions like What are your thoughts? or How do you see this situation? ✅ Model vulnerability – Admit mistakes and show that learning from failure is part of growth. ✅ Respond positively – Replace blame with curiosity: What did we learn? instead of Who’s at fault? ✅ Show that every voice matters – Recognise contributions and ensure quieter team members are heard. Common Myths About Psychological Safety 🚫 “It’s just about being nice.” No! In fact, some “nice” workplaces lack psychological safety because people are too polite to challenge ideas. True psychological safety means honest, constructive discussions—even when it’s uncomfortable. 🚫 “It’s about making people feel comfortable all the time.” Not quite. Growth, learning, and innovation can be uncomfortable, but in a way that builds confidence rather than fear. Creating a Culture of Trust and Learning At Understood, we specialise in leadership development, workplace culture, and team performance training. If you want to build a high-performing, psychologically safe workplace, our bespoke training programmes can help your leaders and teams develop the skills to thrive in today’s workplace. 💡 Want to create a culture where employees feel safe to speak up and innovate? Let’s talk! Contact us today to learn how we can help.

Have you ever been in a meeting where you hesitated to share an idea, worried it might sound silly? Or avoided admitting a mistake because you feared the consequences? If so, you’ve experienced what it’s like not to have psychological safety. But what exactly is psychological safety, and why…

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23 Sep 2024

I recently came across an article with above title. It discusses the government’s latest efforts to attract more people to teaching through new incentives. However, the focus on ‘lie-ins’ in the headline feels frustrating and misguided. Misconceptions about teacher workloads It trivialises the very real challenges that teachers face….

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16 Sep 2024
Mini board with post its promoting adapting a new mindset and positive results

At Understood, we believe in the power of growth. Our training programmes are built on the belief that growth and development are key to success. One of the most compelling ideas that supports this belief comes from psychologist Carol Dweck’s book, Mindset. Dweck explains that how we view our…

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12 Sep 2024
An inclusive, welcoming classroom with simple visuals and clear design, supporting accessible learning

In today’s diverse world, inclusive writing has become essential, not just for DEI training, but for effective communication in every sector. By making our language accessible to everyone—regardless of background, ability, or experience—we create a more welcoming environment. In this guide, Understood is here to help you with some…

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09 Sep 2024
A person in a wheelchair waits at a train platform near the doors, highlighting mobility challenges in public transport systems

Transport accessibility remains a major issue in the UK, particularly for passengers with disabilities, who regularly encounter difficulties that affect their dignity and safety. Recent news highlights how dire this problem is. Disabled passengers across the country face unreliable support, broken infrastructure, and poor accessibility policies that make everyday journeys…

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03 Sep 2024
Behind-the-scenes shot of a video production crew filming a woman sitting in the backseat of a car while talking on the phone, with professional camera and microphone equipment visible.

We’re delighted to have Ben Hancock, Commercial Director of Pulse Studio, back for another guest post. At Understood, we know how Pulse Studio’s expertise in video production can turn corporate training into an engaging experience. In this post, Ben explores different styles of training videos and how to choose…

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23 Jul 2024
Two speech bubbles: one containing a tangled, chaotic line representing confusion, and the other containing a bright yellow light bulb symbolising a clear idea or solution

 “Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very’; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” – Mark Twain In a world where information is constantly at our fingertips, the ability to communicate clearly and effectively has never been more important….

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27 Jun 2024
Close-up of a modern camera recording a Black British male coach giving a video tutorial

We’re thrilled to introduce Ben Hancock, Commercial Director of Pulse Studio, as our guest blog post writer today. Understood has had the pleasure of working with Pulse Studio for many years, collaborating on some truly impactful and engaging training videos. Their expertise, creativity, and keen eye for detail have…

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20 Jun 2024
Robot hand and human hand typing to symbolise the use of ChatGPT in creating engaging communications

The other day, I was listening to The Rest is Politics, and something Rory Stewart said really caught my attention. Around the 14:30 mark, he casually mentioned how much he uses ChatGPT. Now, here’s a man who’s undeniably sharp, intellectual, and has had a career most of us could…

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05 May 2024
A frustrated woman covers her ears, surrounded by confusing business jargon, highlighting the blog's focus on the need for clearer workplace communication.

The business world’s equivalent of nails on a chalkboard We’ve all been there—stuck in a meeting where someone suggests we “drill down” on a topic or “take a deep dive.” And don’t even get me started on “ping me an email” or “let’s unpack that.” These terms may have…

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