Ever wondered if creating a safe space for your team could lead to unprecedented growth and profitability? Let's dive into the neuroscience and psychology behind psychological safety.

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What is psychological safety?

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Psychological safety is the absence of interpersonal fear. Feeling psychologically safe allows people to perform their best. In an organisational context, if we're psychologically safe, we're safe to take risks in our organisation.

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What's going on in our brains?

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The Triadic Brain, based on work by Ernst, Hardin and Pine in 2006, consists of three parts: The Ventral Striatum is the reward impulse, leading us to approach a situation. The Amygdala is the threat impulse, prompting us to avoid a situation. The Prefrontal Cortex is the rational part, responsible for regulating any given situation.

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In a workplace where the prevailing atmosphere is one of apprehension, where individuals fear reprisal or humiliation for expressing their ideas, the metaphorical "chimp" within us becomes hyperactive. This heightened state obstructs the optimal functioning of the more rational human brain.

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What does it take to feel psychologically safe?

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The most fundamental element of psychological safety is trust. Trust can be boiled down to "predictability based on previous experiences."

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A great deal of our emotional responses and behaviours are derived from our experiences and environment. John Gottman, a researcher who has been studying relationships for over 30 years, says that trust is built in the smallest moments.

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What You Can Do to Help Your Team?

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Drawing from Harvard Business School's Dr. Amy Edmondson's model of Psychological Safety, here are three key strategies:

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1. Setting the Scene: Explicitly outline your expectations. Instil a sense of security by aligning the team around a meaningful purpose.

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2. Inviting Participation: Demonstrate humility. Foster open communication by being transparent about your knowledge and limitations. Cultivate an environment where questioning and challenging the norm is welcomed.

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3. Responding Productively: Regularly acknowledge and appreciate your team's efforts. Build a culture that values learning from mistakes. Establish an effective feedback mechanism for team members to express when they feel psychologically unsafe.

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In conclusion

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When psychological safety prevails, the impulsive "chimp" is less likely to be activated, allowing the more creative human brain to take charge. This shift directs energy towards ideation, innovation, and fosters higher levels of engagement, improved communication, and collaboration.

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A workplace culture rooted in psychological safety contributes to reduced stress levels and increased well-being for team members. Ultimately, these factors converge to enhance employee performance, leading to increased business growth and profitability.

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If you'd like to discuss in more detail, require HR consultancy services or are interested in executive coaching, please reach out at steve@encouragerhr.co.uk