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 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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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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09 Mar 2024

In today’s digital age, smartphones have become an integral part of our lives, but what are the consequences of this technology on the mental and physical health of younger generations? Jonathan Haidt’s book, The Anxious Generation, delves into the profound effects of smartphone use and social media on childhood…

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10 Jan 2024

Want to enhance your communication skills and handle tough situations with confidence? Assertiveness is the key to expressing yourself clearly while respecting others. In this blog post, we’ll explore some essential assertiveness techniques that can transform how you communicate and boost your self-assurance. Understanding Assertiveness Techniques Assertiveness techniques are…

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22 Sep 2023

Distraction is something we all wrestle with – even the most motivated among us. It can strike during a conversation, leaving you adrift in thought…or when you sit down to tackle an essential task, only to find yourself lost in hours of internet scrolling. In “Stolen Focus,” Johann Hari…

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02 Aug 2023

Would you like to learn how to regulate your emotions? Well, it’s a skill that can be learned with practice. Inspired by Leonard Mlodinow’s book Emotional: How Feelings Shape Our Thinking, it starts with understanding how to accept, reframe, and express your feelings.  Step 1: ACCEPT Accept your circumstances. Focus on…

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28 Jul 2023

Effective communication is essential for building solid relationships, setting expectations, and working through conflicts. Becoming a master communicator is the key to success in the workplace.  Based on the book Mastering Communication at Work: How to Lead, Manage, and Influence by Ethan F. Becker and Jon Wortmann, we’ll share…

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19 Dec 2022

In the workplace, there’s a clear-cut difference between ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ skills. Hard skills are the technical, tangible ones: knowing a foreign language, graphic design, bookkeeping etc. Soft skills are abilities that combine interpersonal strengths, common sense, personality and people skills. Although harder to define, measure, quantify, and assess,…

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20 Nov 2022

‘The average human lifespan is absurdly, insultingly brief. If you live to be 80, you’ll have had about 4,000 weeks. But that’s no reason for despair.’ So says Oliver Burkeman in his phenomenal book, Four Thousand Weeks – all about time management ‘for mortals’. Burkeman explains that it’s only…

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