Leveraging Mistakes for Psychological Safety

Pause for a moment and think back: when was the last time something didn’t quite go right at work? What did it feel like? And what happened next?

Mistakes – they happen to all of us. It’s a part of life, especially in the workplace.?

The real magic lies in how we handle these slip-ups. It’s these moments that shape our growth and build a strong foundation of psychological safety for our whole team.

Celebrating our mistakes might sound counterintuitive, but it’s a powerful step toward creating a safe, supportive work environment.

By sharing them openly, we’re showing that it’s okay to be human. It encourages learning, breaks down the fear of failure, and strengthens our sense of community.

Some forward-thinking companies even hold meetings specifically to talk about mistakes, turning them into learning opportunities for everyone.

But here’s an important point – admitting a mistake requires feeling safe enough to do so.

Responses like “I told you so” or any form of embarrassment just don’t have a place in a psychologically safe environment.

If you've taken a look at our Psychological Safety Checklist (download it here if you haven’t yet), you’ll know that we take a different approach.

It’s about understanding why things happened the way they did, giving ourselves a break, and extending that same kindness to others.

Mistakes are bound to happen. But our response? That’s where we can truly make a difference.

Here are some prompts for reflection the next time a mistake comes up, whether it's yours or someone else’s:

??? What can I learn from this?

??? If I were in their shoes, how would I hope to be treated?

??? When I made a mistake last time, did I own up to it, or did I make excuses?

??? Am I happy with how I responded? How could I create a safer space for learning next time?

??? Do others feel safe coming to me with their mistakes?

??? Is my focus more on being right, or on doing what’s right?

As we navigate our workdays and life’s challenges, let’s embrace our mistakes as valuable lessons. Let’s create a space where every mistake brings us closer to understanding, trust, and grace.

Want to learn more about creating psychologically safe workspaces?

Our Psychological Safety training will walk you through how to? build a more supportive and dynamic work environment. Click here to learn more! ??

Create a great day! #MakoMindfulness

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