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Psychological Safety: Creating an Environment of Rewarded Vulnerability

Unlocking the Power of Teamwork

What is Psychological Safety?

  • Psychological safety is an environment of rewarded vulnerability.
  • Vulnerability is exposure to the possibility of harm or loss.
  • Harm or loss can be social, emotional, psychological, economic, or political.
  • Psychological safety means acts of vulnerability are rewarded, not punished.
  • Rewarding vulnerability is critical for team success.

Importance of Rewarding Vulnerability

  • Acting on vulnerability leads to learning, contribution, and challenging the status quo.
  • Without rewarding vulnerability, teams stall or break down.
  • Rewarding vulnerability enables individuals to bring their whole selves to work.
  • Rewarding vulnerability is necessary for team growth and improvement.

Threat Detection and Safe Environment

  • Humans engage in threat detection to determine if an environment is safe or unsafe.
  • Safe environments elicit performance responses, where individuals eagerly contribute and add value.
  • Unsafe environments trigger fear responses, causing individuals to withdraw and avoid potential harm.
  • Psychological safety determines the type of response individuals exhibit.

Acts of Vulnerability

  • Showing up, introducing oneself, and self-disclosure.
  • Clarifying expectations and sharing personal problems or challenges.
  • Identifying team weaknesses or past failures.
  • Giving feedback, making comments, and suggesting alternative viewpoints.
  • Challenging the status quo and admitting mistakes.

Consequences of Punished Vulnerability

  • Punished vulnerability activates the brain's pain centers.
  • It triggers self-censoring instinct and defensive performance mode.
  • Individuals become preoccupied with managing personal risk.
  • Punished vulnerability hinders creativity, growth, and innovation.

Blue Zone vs. Red Zone

  • A Blue Zone is an environment of rewarded vulnerability and high psychological safety.
  • A Red Zone is an environment of punished vulnerability and low psychological safety.
  • The level of psychological safety determines the response of individuals.
  • Creating a Blue Zone is a constant priority for teams.

Perishable Nature of Psychological Safety

  • Psychological safety is delicate and dynamic, not permanent.
  • It requires constant effort and attention from the team.
  • Similar to physical safety, psychological safety must be prioritized daily.
  • Maintaining psychological safety ensures continuous team growth.

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