Psychological safety in a team
Written on the 22nd March 2023.
The importance of psychological safety in a team can easily be overlooked when we are busy and focused on project and task delivery, yet it is essential for the success of any team – especially when building a new team. Psychological safety is defined as "a shared belief held by members of a team that the environment is safe for interpersonal risk-taking". In other words, it is the feeling that team members will not be judged or criticised for making mistakes or taking risks. It encourages creativity, and collaboration and creates opportunities for ‘ah-ha’ moments that may otherwise be missed. When a team is psychologically safe, team members are more likely to be honest and open with each other, and to take risks that can lead to innovation and success.
When building a new team, it is important to create an environment of psychological safety right from the start. This can be done by establishing a culture of trust and respect, where team members feel free to express their ideas, ask questions, and make mistakes without fear. We also need to ensure that everyone on the team has a voice, and their opinion is valued, thus creating an atmosphere where team members feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and opinions.
In our team, we work hard to create a trusting environment. For example, at the start of a meeting, we’ll check in with each other, and anyone who feels distracted or needs to bring something up feels they can freely do so, without judgment. Thanks to knowing and having explored together how our DISC profiles work, we are aware of each other’s strengths and areas of challenge, which leads to safe team discussions. For example, each autumn we have a fun and engaging team brainstorming session on the following year’s marketing themes where there’s no such thing as ‘wrong’. This is an open forum, where all ideas are welcome, and the safe space can create some truly imaginative ideas. From a strong base, we’re also able to ‘walk the walk’ when it comes to working with our clients on building these safe psychological environments in the teams we work with.
These regular check-ins, where team members can be honest, voice their concerns and share their thoughts, can help to identify any issues that may be affecting the team's ability to work effectively, promoting a safe and trusting environment. We are continuing to work at it!