Improving teamwork through psychological safety
IAPM International Association of Project Managers
Teamwork can be both a blessing and a curse: If the team is well-rehearsed or communicates well, teamwork can add real value for all involved. However, if something is ‘off’, the productivity of the team can suffer, as can the motivation of the team members. So why is it that some teams work smoothly and efficiently, while others fail early on? One reason may be the psychological safety of the team. Even when the framework conditions are similar, there can be significant differences in team performance if this is not guaranteed.
What is psychological safety and why is it important for teamwork?
In recent years, the term ‘psychological safety’ has become increasingly common in the context of teamwork and leadership development. But what exactly does it mean and why is it so important for teamwork? Put simply, psychological safety is the feeling that team members have when they can freely express their opinions and ideas without fear of negative consequences. When this prevails in a team, team members feel encouraged to share their opinions and ideas with their colleagues, even if these opinions differ from those of other team members or are controversial. They trust that their colleagues will value their contributions and deal with them constructively.?
A lack of this can have serious consequences for teamwork: In a team where team members do not feel encouraged to express their opinions freely, fewer creative ideas are developed, and fewer solutions are found. Ideas or suggestions may be withheld for fear of criticism or rejection, which can lead to important issues not being addressed. For example, risks may not be identified because the person who recognizes the risk does not want to be seen as a pessimist. This can lead to a group dynamic where everyone moves in the same direction without considering other perspectives. If a person feels that they cannot or are not allowed to express their opinion freely, they will not feel heard or valued — motivation and commitment suffer and, of course, this is a burden on the person, which can lead to stress and frustration.
How can psychological safety be promoted?
Psychological safety is a prerequisite for good teamwork. A safe working environment can lead to greater efficiency and innovation, so project managers should take measures to promote psychological safety in their teams. These measures can be divided into communication-related and team-related measures. However, before taking action, it is important to assess the status quo. This involves assessing and questioning the effectiveness of teamwork: Where are the team’s potentials, are there blockages and what are the causes or problems leading to the goal not being achieved? Another effective way of identifying the team’s needs is to set up feedback forms or “suggestion boxes” that allow team members to freely express their opinions and feelings. Possible actions are then considered.
Communication-specific measures:
Team-specific measures:
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It is important to note, however, that not every measure is suitable for every team. The effectiveness of the measures depends very much on the individual status quo of the team, so the measures should be tailored to individual needs. For example, if a team has difficulty organising itself, this may lead to team members being less motivated to develop their own ideas and more dependent on the decisions of others. In this case, targeted measures to promote self-organisation and ownership may be useful to increase psychological safety in the team.
Challenges in promoting psychological safety
Encouragement is crucial for successful teamwork and a healthy working environment. However, there are some challenges in implementing it.
One of the biggest challenges is that fostering is an ongoing process that takes time and effort. It cannot simply be achieved through a one-off training session or seminar. Instead, it requires a constant focus on developing an open, respectful and supportive culture. Promoting psychological safety requires a commitment from leaders and managers to invest time and resources in the process. Simply introducing new policies is not enough; ongoing support is needed to ensure success.
However, all the measures and management commitment will be in vain if the team does not accept the changes involved. Implementing measures may mean that some team members feel uncomfortable or have to leave their comfort zone. It is therefore important that changes are carefully planned and introduced to the team to ensure that they are accepted and supported by all team members. Once the team understands that these measures are beneficial, they will be more open, and more measures can be introduced. This is because psychological safety allows opinions to be expressed freely without fear of repercussions. However, this attitude has to be embedded in the minds of the team members. In some cultures, it may be inappropriate to express opinions openly, e.g. to avoid losing face. Of course, this has to be taken into account when implementing the measures. It is therefore important for leaders and project managers to be sensitive and use different approaches to ensure that all team members are involved and supported, which in turn is enabled by the status quo identified earlier.
Conclusion
In order to move a project forward, new ideas are always needed, and team members contribute them. However, these are not always welcomed by everyone, as people do not always agree with each other. In order to overcome the fear of rejection and move the project forward, measures must be taken to give the team psychological security so that they can express themselves without restraint. After all, a project needs many ideas to find the best one to implement. If team members know that their opinions and ideas are respected, they will be more confident in expressing them, even if they are not implemented. Sometimes, however, they are implemented, and sometimes an idea expressed earlier can inspire another team member’s idea. In this way, healthy communication, empathy and respect promote the psychological safety of all participants to successfully achieve the project goal.
Originally published at?https://www.iapm.net.