Today, I want to introduce you to a transformative concept that’s at the heart of my coaching practice: psychological safety. Over the next few newsletters, we’ll dive deeper into its impact and explore tools like Reflective Inquiry to help you lead with authenticity and create extraordinary results.
What is Psychological Safety?
At its core, psychological safety is a team’s shared belief that it’s safe to take interpersonal risks. It’s about creating an environment where people feel secure enough to express themselves without fear of judgment or retribution.
On a human level, it meets a fundamental need we all share: the need to feel seen, heard, known, and accepted. When someone feels psychologically safe, they’re no longer trapped in a state of fight, flight, or fear. Instead, they can fully access their neocortex—the part of the brain responsible for problem-solving and peak performance.
Why Psychological Safety Matters
Psychological safety isn’t just a feel-good concept; it’s a competitive advantage. Here’s why:
- Trust: It forms the foundation for high-performing, high-trust teams.
- Innovation: Teams with psychological safety aren’t afraid to fail, making them more likely to innovate.
- Engagement: When employees don’t have to protect themselves, they can fully contribute their talents and energy.
- The Leader’s Role: As leaders, it’s our responsibility to model and nurture psychological safety. This means leading from the front—being vulnerable, approachable, and intentional about fostering an environment where it’s safe to take risks.
One of the most powerful tools for creating this environment is Reflective Inquiry, a technique developed by Dr. Marcia Reynolds. Reflective Inquiry combines validating, mirroring, and asking massively curious questions. The goal isn’t to solve problems for your team but to create a space where they feel safe enough to identify and solve their own challenges.
We’ll unpack Reflective Inquiry more in upcoming newsletters, but here’s the key takeaway for now: it starts with you.
Client Spotlight: Transforming a Tech Team
Recently, I worked with a tech CEO who unintentionally stifled his team’s creativity. He would often speak first in meetings and play the “devil’s advocate,” shutting down ideas before they had a chance to grow. This invalidation was killing morale and creativity.
Through coaching, the CEO committed to fostering psychological safety. By speaking last, listening more, and encouraging input without judgment, the results were astounding:
- A 40% increase in job satisfaction across the team.
- Collaborative projects got back on track, and deadlines were met.
- “Bad ideas” were reframed as learning opportunities, leading to better solutions.
- Additionally, by introducing regular “safe space” meetings across departments, the organization broke down silos, sparking creative cross-departmental collaboration.
Actionable Steps to Build Psychological Safety Today
Here are three simple ways to start:
- Invite Input: Ask for feedback in team meetings and genuinely appreciate all contributions.
- Normalize Learning: Share a personal story about a mistake and what you learned from it. Replace the word failure with learning. As my coach Dr. Danny Friedland taught me, “Failure doesn’t exist in the brain; it’s simply feedback on the path to success.”
- Lead by Example: Be transparent about your challenges and how you’re working through them.
Bonus Challenge: Bring Psychological Safety Home
Psychological safety isn’t just for the workplace—it’s just as powerful in our personal lives. My challenge to you is to use Reflective Inquiry with your spouse, partner, or kids.
- Validate their feelings.
- Mirror their words to show you’re truly listening.
- Be Massively Curious about their experiences.
- Help your family feel seen, heard, known, and accepted. When you model this at home, it strengthens the relationships that matter most.
Let’s make a commitment together: to lead with vulnerability, foster trust, and create environments where people can thrive.
What step will you take this week to enhance psychological safety—at work or at home?
I’d love to hear about your journey! Hit reply and let me know how you’re building psychological safety in your world.
Here’s to creating spaces where people—and ideas—can flourish.
Best,
Todd
