This week, Scott Chambers joins us to talk about psychological safety in teams.
Episode Highlights
[11:29] What Does Low Psychological Safety Look Like?
- Difficulty collaborating is because of low psychological safety.
- People in low safety environments can exhibit unresponsiveness.
- We always want to be heard, but we don’t always listen.
[14:52] How to Improve Team Dynamics
- We need to create a space that acknowledges the instinct to be defensive.
- Then, help people go beyond this initial reaction.
- At the heart of a safe environment is the assumption of positive intent.
[16:38] Assume Positive Intent
- Our body naturally identifies threats, but it can misidentify helpful things.
- Practice seeing positive intent in others.
- It helps if teams work as a group to resolve disputes.
[22:10] Trust and Psychological Safety
- Trust exists between two entities based on individual relationships.
- Psychological safety, on the other hand, is a systematic relationship.
[28:44] What to Do as a Leader
- If you feel you’re surrounded by yes-men, step back and invite ideas.
- As a leader, your job is to ask good questions and genuinely listen.
- Develop your listening skills by summarising what you hear.
[32:41] What to Do as a Team Member
- If you’re a team member, you can change the culture with vulnerability.
- Vulnerability means admitting your mistakes to solve them.
[37:05] Change the Culture
- The more people can freely admit and laugh at their mistakes, the better your team performance will be.
- Change the culture and make vulnerability a habit.
[40:41] Does Safety Decrease with Hierarchy?
- Seniors and bosses hold power even if they don’t realise it.
- Leaders need to be more welcoming of people and their feelings.
[42:56] Safety Is Not Comfort
- Psychological safety is not comfort.
- What you want is a safe and uncomfortable environment.
- It’s only while we’re uncomfortable when we can trigger the vulnerability.
[44:36] Scott’s Top Tips
- Catch yourself whenever you feel defensive or afraid to speak up.
- Lead with vulnerability.
- Seek positive intent.
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