Psychological safety is a shared belief held by members of a team that the team will not embarrass, reject, or punish them for speaking up. It’s about having trust in your leaders and your team.
A psychologically safe workplace begins with a feeling of belonging. Employees need to feel accepted for who they are, including the characteristics that make them different from others. Then, they need to be able to learn and grow by asking questions, giving and receiving feedback, experimenting, and making mistakes.
Psychological safety in the workplace encourages employees to feel safe using their skills and abilities to make a meaningful contribution. They can speak up and challenge the status quo — and they see their role in making the organization a better place.