How does Psychological safety impact team performance?

Why did Google conclude that the most important factor that impacted the effectiveness of their teams was the presence of psychological safety?

For starters, when it is absent, there are very severe downsides - including negative impacts on well-being, stress, burnout, and turnover, as well as overall organisational performance. 
 
So what is it and why is it so important? 

Psychological safety is the shared belief that you can take risks and express ideas and concerns without fear of being punished or ridiculed. 

So when team members feel psychologically safe, they are more likely to be engaged, innovative, and productive. This is even more important in a hybrid and remote world. 

We aren’t talking about an environment that is all ‘nice’ or where people feel comfortable all the time.

Many workplaces that are deemed polite wouldn’t have psychological safety because people do not feel like they can speak up. 

It’s uncomfortable to point out mistakes and potentially cause someone to lose face - but trust and good relationships are built through micro tears and repairs.

It’s often misunderstood - it’s an enabler, not the goal but it creates an environment where everyone can work well together. 

How can you develop this foundational skill and culture in your organisation and team? Watch our free webinar below with Mark Loftus, clinical psychologist, executive coach and co-founder of Jyre.

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