Ever been in a meeting where silence fills the room like a thick fog?
Sam Harvey
Working with CEOs to turn their culture into their greatest asset, through bespoke behaviour change programs ?? Founder of Braver Leaders Team Performance ?? International Speaker & Podcast Host ???
No pushback. No bold ideas. Just… nothing.
?? Here’s the truth: if people aren’t speaking up, it’s not because they don’t have ideas—it’s because they don’t feel safe to share them.
3 Signs Your Team Doesn't Feel Safe (and How to Fix It):
?? 1. No one disagrees with you. If your meetings are just people nodding along, you don’t have alignment—you have fear. Fix it: Start inviting (and rewarding) different perspectives. Try: “What’s a completely opposite way to approach this?”
?? 2. Mistakes get buried. If failure is punished, people will do everything to hide it. Fix it: Normalize the phrase “That didn’t work—what did we learn?” The best teams aren’t perfect; they iterate.
?? 3. Your top talent isn’t taking risks. If your smartest people stop pushing boundaries, it’s not because they got lazy—it’s because the culture made them cautious. Fix it: Publicly celebrate someone who took a risk (even if it didn’t work out).
?? The takeaway? Fear kills innovation. Psychological safety fuels it.
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Sam ???
Founder of incorpo studio I??Helping Remote Teams & SMEs Reduce Back Pain & Burnout with Personalized Wellness Programs & Workshops
1 天前Indeed, embracing mistakes and reward bold thinking unlocks way more creativity and engagement. Great take, Sam Harvey
Head of HR Global
1 天前Sam Harvey Absolutely spot on! I have always believed that creating a culture where everyone feels safe to share their ideas is crucial for innovation and growth, not just for the team, but also for myself! I do this by encouraging open dialogue. I do not shy away from asking for regular feedback and make it clear that all opinions are valued. It's a gift As a leader, I show vulnerability by admitting my own mistakes and sharing what I’ve learned from them, and also sharing my journey, my story the good, the bad and the ugly. What have I achieved by this this? The approach I take always sets a positive tone for the rest of the team. I embrace and celebrate the diverse backgrounds and perspectives within my team. I am glad that I do not have a time of mini-me's! I noticed very quickly being doing this it enriches our pool of ideas but also makes everyone feel valued and included. I always say to myself: Remember, a safe environment is the foundation of a thriving, innovative team.
Board advisor and executive coach | Stakeholder Engagement | Earned corporate reputation and enhanced organisational performance | Savvy. Canny. Gutsy | safeplacestowork.com salientksa.com
1 天前Psychological Safety clears the Pea Soup.