The Crucial Role of Psychological Safety in High-Performing Teams

Coming off the back of mental health awareness week, it got me thinking about my own leadership style, and the various things I do to create the best environment for my team to thrive. Whilst compensation packages are a great motivator for most (particularly in a Sales role), in my opinion that alone does not go far enough to create truly cohesive teams that want to go the extra mile for your business. Therefore, other cultural, environmental, and psychological factors need to be considered.

The cost of poor mental health alone has an?estimated annual cost of ￡45?billion?in the UK, demonstrating the need for organisations to start thinking differently and change their approach to dealing with the multitude of factors affecting employee well-being. Many are calling with psychological safety to be included in the traditional organisational risk register, with ISO 45003 (the?first global standard giving practical guidance on managing psychological health in the workplace) potentially paving the way for such change.

As we all know, in the dynamic and fast-paced world of today's organisations, high-performing teams are key to achieving success. These teams are characterized by their ability to innovate, collaborate, and deliver outstanding results consistently. However, there is a critical factor that sets these teams apart from the rest: psychological safety. Psychological safety creates an environment where team members feel safe to take risks, express their ideas, and be vulnerable without fear of negative consequences. I’m sure that we have all heard of the expression constructive conflict, and most leaders I know verbalise their desire for their teams to bring their ideas forward, challenge the status-quo, or speak out if they see potential issues with GTM execution etc. But what else can we do, as leaders, to truly create the optimal environment, where our teams feel truly valued, and consistently deliver high-performance?

In this blog, I'll outline why I believe psychological safety is essential for high-performing teams and how it contributes to their success. Who knows, there may even be some ideas in here that will allow you to unlock the true potential of your team…

1. Open Communication

Psychological safety encourages open and honest communication among team members. When individuals feel safe to share their opinions, ask questions, and admit mistakes, it fosters an environment of trust and transparency. This open communication enables team members to provide valuable feedback, challenge each other's ideas, and collaborate effectively. As a result, high-performing teams can leverage diverse perspectives and make well-informed decisions that drive innovation and problem-solving. From experience, creating the space to allow such communication often uncovers little nuggets of wisdom that allow you the opportunity to fully flesh out ideas, pivot, or course correct.

1. Risk-taking and Innovation

In high-performing teams, members are encouraged to take calculated risks and think outside the box. Psychological safety empowers individuals to share unconventional ideas, explore new approaches, and experiment without the fear of being ridiculed or punished. No leader wants to see their investment squandered, but allowing your team to think differently, and fail fast, can reap rewards in the long run. This freedom to take risks fosters a culture of innovation where breakthrough ideas can emerge. When team members feel psychologically safe, they are more likely to contribute their unique insights and challenge the status quo, ultimately driving continuous improvement and pushing the team's boundaries.

1. Learning and Growth

Psychological safety creates an environment that supports learning and personal growth. When team members feel safe to admit their mistakes and ask for help, it fosters a culture of continuous learning and development. In high-performing teams, failure is viewed as an opportunity for growth and not as a cause for blame or punishment. This mindset encourages individuals to experiment, learn from their experiences, and develop their skills. As team members grow individually, the collective knowledge and capabilities of the team also expand, contributing to overall high performance, and significantly improved ROI.

1. Collaboration and Trust

Trust really is the cornerstone of any functioning relationship, and it’s no different with your team. Psychological safety is a foundation for building strong relationships and trust within a team. When individuals feel psychologically safe, they are more likely to trust their colleagues, rely on their expertise, and collaborate effectively. Trust is essential for efficient teamwork, as it enables open sharing of information, delegation of responsibilities, and mutual support. High-performing teams thrive on trust, as it facilitates seamless coordination, synergy, and a shared sense of purpose.

1. Employee Well-being and Engagement

In our post-Covid landscape, organisations are more aware of factors affecting employee well-being and mental health than ever before, with increasingly supportive and flexible benefits packages, and initiatives aimed at offering more support to those affected by both work-related, and external factors. In my humble opinion, the role of a leader is also evolving, from mentor/coach/manager, to increasingly more consultative and supportive. Psychological safety has a significant impact on employee well-being and engagement. When team members feel psychologically safe, they experience lower stress levels, higher job satisfaction, and increased motivation. They are more likely to be fully engaged in their work, contributing their best efforts to achieve team goals. Additionally, psychological safety supports the overall mental health of individuals by reducing anxiety and promoting a supportive work environment, leading to higher retention rates and attracting top talent.

I am convinced that psychological safety is not a luxury, rather a fundamental necessity for high-performing teams. Organisations that prioritise and cultivate psychological safety within their teams create an environment where individuals can excel, ideas can flourish, and outstanding performance becomes the norm. By recognising the importance of psychological safety, you, as a leader, can pave the way for your team(s) to reach new heights and unlock their true potential.

If you have found this blog interesting and would like to conduct further research, I highly recommend following Amy Edmondson, and checking out some of her work: Amy Edmondson ?

#psychologicalsafety #leadership #wellbeing #highperformance