Don’t leave them hanging on a limb: Creating Psychological Safety

When was the last time you supported someone who took a risk in speaking up in a group?

When we talk about #PsychologicalSafety, we’re talking about rewarding #vulnerability – that is, appreciating when people express ideas that run counter to the group consensus regardless of the fear that the group will dismiss or humiliate them in response. The goal is to celebrate their courage in speaking up.

The thing is that in order to feel safe, the speaker needs to know that another person will acknowledge their courage or their comment, so they don’t feel like they’re left hanging out on a limb. This may seem obvious but I don’t think it is. I was in a meeting recently where a team member proposed a ground rule that the team support the person who speaks up. That in itself was a powerful, courageous comment.

So, how often do you and your team practice supporting the person who speaks up?