5 Steps to Elevate Performance with Psychological Safety

Right, let’s get straight to it. In the boardroom ballet of business, psychological safety isn't just the unsung hero—it's the choreographer that allows every dancer to move in sync. Why should you care? Because when your team feels safe, creativity and productivity soar. Here are the five steps to get there, seasoned with real-world examples that bring each principle to life.

1. Drive Open Dialogue: At one cutting-edge tech firm, team meetings kick off with a 'No Bad Ideas' brainstorming session. For 10 minutes, everyone shouts out suggestions related to the project at hand. Not only does this activate creative thinking, but it also establishes that every voice is valuable. You can find the science backing this in a report by Harvard Business Review.
2. Celebrate Diverse Ways of Thinking: Ever heard of Pixar’s ‘Braintrust’ sessions? These are feedback loops that incorporate multiple perspectives. The diverse range of voices is credited with the studio’s unbroken chain of box-office hits. Take a leaf out of their book and invite varied viewpoints into your problem-solving sessions.
3. Create an Environment of Trust and Support: Some companies use a 'Trust Token' system. Each employee starts the week with a virtual token and can award it to a colleague who has particularly demonstrated trustworthiness or support. At the week's end, tokens are tallied, and the 'Trust Ambassador' is acknowledged. A study from the University of Warwick shows that trust correlates directly with productivity.
4. Take Risks To Grow: Companies like Google allocate '20% Time,' encouraging employees to spend a fifth of their time on passion projects. Not only did this policy birth Google News and AdSense, but it also nurtures a culture where risks and innovation are intertwined. Research from Cornell University backs up the merits of such an approach.
5. The Art of Authentic Leadership: In one organisation, the CEO holds monthly 'Listening Lunches,' where she invites random employees to share concerns and ideas directly. This act of vulnerability and openness trickles down, setting the tone for the entire team. Studies indicate that authentic leadership boosts employee engagement and trust.

Now you’re armed with actionable, example-backed steps to instill psychological safety and kick your team's performance up a notch.

Wishing you a culture-building journey as satisfying as a perfectly brewed cup of Bulletproof coffee.

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