The importance of psychological safety: Amy Edmondson

Summary

Psychological safety is pivotal for delivering safe and effective care. It fosters an environment where individuals feel secure to voice ideas, questions, and even mistakes without fear of retribution. This sense of being heard and valued encourages candor and conflict resolution, leading to better solutions. However, psychological safety is not about being 'nice' or avoiding conflict; it's about being open and committed to excellence. The ultimate goal is high-quality care, and psychological safety is a means to achieve that. Without it, workplaces may fall into the 'apathy zone' or 'comfort zone,' hindering performance. The 'learning zone' is where both psychological safety and commitment to excellence coexist, fostering a high-performing environment, especially critical in healthcare.

Takeaways

• 🔐 **Psychological Safety Defined**: It's the belief that the workplace is a safe environment for expressing ideas, questions, concerns, and even making mistakes.
• 🗣️ **Value of Voice**: Psychological safety fosters a sense of confidence that one's voice is valued and heard, encouraging candor.
• 🙅‍♀️ **Not Just Being 'Nice'**: It's not about avoiding conflict or only speaking positively; it's about being honest and open.
• 🤝 **Conflict as a Positive**: In a psychologically safe workplace, conflict is expected and can lead to better understanding and solutions.
• 🚫 **Not a Free Pass**: Psychological safety doesn't mean all ideas are accepted without critique, nor does it allow for slacking off or oversharing.
• 🎯 **Goal of Excellence**: The ultimate goal facilitated by psychological safety is not just safety itself but achieving excellence in care delivery.
• 💔 **Apathy Zone**: Lack of both psychological safety and commitment to excellence leads to a zone of apathy, where work is not performed with passion.
• 🛌 **Comfort Zone**: High psychological safety without a drive for excellence results in a 'comfort zone', which is not conducive to high-performance care.
• 😥 **Interpersonal Anxiety Zone**: High commitment to excellence but low psychological safety creates an 'interpersonal anxiety zone', hindering effectiveness.
• 🏆 **Learning Zone**: The combination of psychological safety and commitment to excellence leads to the 'learning zone', a high-performing environment where problems are solved effectively.

Q & A

What is psychological safety in the context of the workplace?

Psychological safety is a belief that the workplace is safe for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, and even mistakes. It's a sense of confidence that one's voice is valued and welcomed.

How does psychological safety contribute to high-quality care delivery?

Psychological safety allows individuals to share observations and ideas that could be critical to delivering safe and high-quality care, fostering an environment where every voice can contribute to excellence.

What is the difference between psychological safety and being 'nice' in the workplace?

Psychological safety is not about being 'nice' or avoiding conflict. It's about candor and creating a space where open dialogue, including potentially unpleasant truths, can occur to drive better solutions.

Can psychological safety lead to a lack of conflict in the workplace?

No, psychological safety does not mean the absence of conflict. It allows for healthy conflict where differing viewpoints are discussed and understood to reach better solutions.

Is it acceptable to slack off or overshare in a psychologically safe workplace?

No, psychological safety does not grant permission to slack off or overshare. It encourages thoughtful and considerate sharing of work-relevant content.

What is the ultimate goal of psychological safety in a workplace?

The ultimate goal of psychological safety is not the safety itself but using it as a means to achieve excellence and commitment to high-quality care.

What happens if a workplace lacks both psychological safety and commitment to excellence?

If a workplace lacks both psychological safety and commitment to excellence, it falls into the 'apathy zone', where employees are disengaged and not fully contributing to their potential.

What is the 'comfort zone' in the context of the script?

The 'comfort zone' refers to a workplace where there is psychological safety but no commitment to excellence, leading to a relaxed state that does not characterize effective care delivery.

What is the 'interpersonal anxiety zone' and how does it affect the workplace?

The 'interpersonal anxiety zone' is a state where there is a high commitment to excellence and urgency but low psychological safety, leading to employees feeling that their voice is not welcome, which can hinder their performance.

What is the 'learning zone' and why is it important in healthcare delivery?

The 'learning zone' is where both psychological safety and a commitment to excellence coexist, leading to high performance and continuous problem-solving, which is crucial for effective healthcare delivery.