I've been asked to detail the 'how' of #PsychologicalSafety in teams. But first I have to explain the 'what'. Firstly, what it is not. Psychological safety is NOT everyone 'being nice'. Psychological safety IS allowing everyone to more equally share necessary discomfort. 🧵... - ThreadSky

liangrhea.bsky.social • 7 days ago

I've been asked to detail the 'how' of #PsychologicalSafety in teams. But first I have to explain the 'what'.

Firstly, what it is not. Psychological safety is NOT everyone 'being nice'.

Psychological safety IS allowing everyone to more equally share necessary discomfort.

🧵...

Reposted from Rhea Liang

This email from a senior medical consultant hit me hard.

How can we establish #PsychologicalSafety when it's never been there for so many of us? 💔

#OperateWithRespect

Comments

liangrhea.bsky.social•7 days ago

One of the most invisible structural inequities is the expectation of discomfort. Some people encounter discomfort so rarely that they react very strongly to small amounts. Others are expected to silently, resiliently, tolerate discomfort++ every day.

liangrhea.bsky.social•7 days ago

In sociology there is the concept of permission sets. There are often marked differences, even in the same room, in who gets to speak, who is listened to, who is deferred to. It's very comfortable having a wide permission set and the ability to contribute freely.

liangrhea.bsky.social•7 days ago

Equality- treating everyone the same- doesn't achieve #PsychologicalSafety because everyone is working within different permission sets.

Equity- treating everyone uniquely towards the same goals- can though. And it's measurable. *Did* everyone have their ideas listened to?

liangrhea.bsky.social•7 days ago

So, three ways I establish #PsychologicalSafety.

First, be open about flaws *and* make sure everyone gets to be equally vulnerable. It's not psychological safety if one person gets to admit mistakes and another person gets heavily criticised for doing the same.

liangrhea.bsky.social•7 days ago

Second, consider what you NEED from team members and what is just a (potentially discomforting) sociocultural norm. In online meetings I say 'I may turn off my camera at times because unmasking helps me listen better. I encourage everyone to work in whatever way is best for you'.

liangrhea.bsky.social•7 days ago

Lastly, audit your outcomes. Is each member contributing equally (in their preferred way)? Are you getting brave thinking and wild ideas? Are you pausing to workshop 'wild' ideas rather than instinctively retreating to comfortable 'nah that'll never work'? #Serendipity

nattiereddrop.bsky.social•6 days ago

Wish I could bookmark this!

liangrhea.bsky.social•6 days ago

I really want a bookmarking function here too! Please @bsky.app? 🙏

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply