How to Create Psychological Safety for Yourself at Work

Psychological safety is a big concept, a media catch-phrase and the number one thing that sets high performing teams apart from all the rest.

Simply put, psychological safety is knowing you can suggest ideas, admit mistakes and take risks without reprisal from others at work.

Without it, you are spending large parts of the day figuring out what to say, and what not say.  Sorting out who you can trust and who you can’t.  Essentially, you are not able to express yourself at work, and that always has a cost to your well-being.

Psychologically unsafe workplaces come on a continuum; from toxic to simply exhausting.  They make you question yourself, and wonder what steps you should be taking for your career and welfare.

First step?  Figure out if you are working in a psychologically safe environment. This quick quiz is inspired by Amy Edmonson's Team Psychological Safety Assessment. 
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Using a scale of one (strongly disagree) to seven (strongly agree) rate your workplace experience on the following:

1. If I make a mistake on my team, it is often held against me.
2. Members of my team are able to bring up problems and tough issues.
3. It is safe to take a risk on this team.
4. It is difficult to ask other members of this team for help.
5. Working with members of this team, my unique skills and talents are valued and utilized.

To find your result, add up your scores from questions 2, 3, and 5 for a subtotal. 

Then, subtract your score on question 1 from 8 (i.e., if you gave yourself a score of 2 on this question, you subtract that from 8 for a final score of 6 for question 1) and do the same with your score on question 4.  

Then add both of those numbers to the subtotal to get your final result. 

• A final result of 0 to 15 means your team is psychologically unsafe.
• If your result is between 16 to 30 it means your team offers some psychological safety, and there is room for improvement.
• A result over 30 means you feel comfortable and safe at work the majority of the time.

So, what options do you have if you are in a psychologically unsafe team environment?  There are many things in your power to create more safety for yourself and others at work.

• You have a big idea in a meeting, but you’ve been shot down in the past.  Rather than make a statement (“I think we should…”), phrase your idea as a question (“What would happen if we…”).  Questions are an invitation for thought and conversation with less chance of being dismissed, and more chance for inclusive discussion.
• Stuck on a big problem at work?  Suggest a “bad idea” brain storming session where everyone has permission to make unhelpful suggestions as a way to add some humour to the situation.  Along the way it may reveal a new angle no one has thought of yet, and it opens up ways to express things safely that wasn’t there before.
• Does something feel risky at work?  Ask yourself “What is the worst that could happen?”  It never feels good to have someone roll their eyes at you, or say what you’ve suggested has no merit, but is it really career limiting?  Putting yourself out there is a risk, but so is staying quiet and not contributing your expertise.  If it’s uncomfortable for you to speak up in a group setting, see if there is a way to make your contributions one-on-one. 

Staying quiet about a psychologically unsafe working environment means things can’t change.  Consider what the real risks are to your career in working in an environment where you have no voice.  If you have concerns about the safety of speaking up on your team, what is the risk in bringing this up with your manager?  

If things are truly toxic you may need to look for a new place to work, protecting your well-being.  But before you leave (and from the safety of having that new job to go to), say something – it could be a game-changer for others.

Are you feeling disconnected, underutilized or undervalued at work?  You don't have to.

Take the First Step Today