Psychological Safety at Work: The Key to Increasing Productivity

Baltas Group

In today's business world, one of the most critical factors shaping success is psychological safety. A work environment where employees can express themselves, share their ideas freely and not be afraid of making mistakes is the key to high productivity and innovation. So what is psychological safety at work and why is it so important? In addition to increasing productivity, psychological safety in the workplace strengthens team relationships, increases employee engagement and positively impacts the overall performance of the workplace. In this article, we will explore in detail what psychological safety in the workplace is, how it can be achieved and what leaders can do about it.

What is psychological safety?

Psychological safety is a concept that enables employees to feel comfortable and safe in the work environment. When an employee can speak without fear of being judged for expressing their opinions, not worrying about being punished when they make mistakes, and feeling the presence of a safe space to give feedback, it shows that psychological safety exists in the organization. Amy Edmondson, one of the first to define this concept, describes psychological safety as “a safe environment in which members of a team feel worth taking risks.” In an organization with psychological safety, employees;

1. Share ideas and concerns freely,
2. Admit mistakes and learn from them,
3. They are not afraid to ask questions and ask for help,
4. They are more courageous in criticizing or giving feedback to their teammates.

The importance of psychological safety in the organization

A sense of psychological safety among employees directly affects a company's success because a safe environment paves the way for innovative thinking and learning. Psychological safety at work makes a big difference in the following areas:

1. Creativity and Innovation: Employees are more creative and innovative in an environment where they are not afraid to take risks. Psychological safety is essential for new ideas to emerge, mistakes to be discussed and corrected, and business processes to be continuously improved.
2. Team Productivity: The success of a team depends on team members trusting each other. In teams where psychological safety is high, cooperation increases, communication channels are open and problems are solved quickly.
3. Employee Engagement: When employees feel valued and respected, they are more committed to their work. This increases employee satisfaction and reduces turnover.
4. Learning Culture: Learning from mistakes, receiving feedback and improving accordingly is only possible in a safe work environment. Psychological safety supports employees' continuous learning and development process.

How to ensure psychological safety in the organization?

Ensuring psychological safety is of strategic importance for leaders and human resource professionals. Here are ways to increase psychological safety in the organization:

1. Encourage open communication: Creating an environment of open and frank communication is the foundation of psychological safety. Employees should not fear being judged or criticized for voicing their ideas and concerns. Leaders can create a culture of open communication by encouraging the expression of different ideas in meetings and listening to employees' thoughts.
2. Focus on learning from mistakes: Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. To improve psychological safety at work, employees should be allowed to make mistakes and learn from them. Leaders should ensure that mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth and learning, not as situations to be punished. This helps employees think innovatively without being afraid to take risks.
3. Give employees trust: Employees need to feel that their managers trust them. To build trust, leaders should make it clear that they support their employees. This means not being afraid to ask for help when needed, asking questions and supporting each other in difficult situations. The message of “we are together” makes employees feel more comfortable.
4. Create a culture of feedback: Feedback is one of the most important tools to strengthen psychological safety. Having a culture of open and constructive feedback within the team contributes to the development of employees. However, feedback should be given in a constructive and supportive manner, not in a judgmental language. Leaders should provide both positive and negative feedback to their employees and offer them room for improvement.
5. Support diversity and inclusion within the team: Different perspectives foster innovation and creativity. In a workplace with psychological safety, employees can freely express their differences and these differences are valued. By supporting diversity and inclusion within the team, leaders ensure that employees feel they belong.

The role of leaders: How can they build psychological safety?

Leadership is key to building psychological safety at work. Leaders must promote psychological safety through their own behavior and model it for their teams. Here is what leaders can do to build psychological safety:

1. Learn to listen: Listen carefully to your employees' concerns, ideas and suggestions. Make them feel valued.
2. Share responsibility: Take joint responsibility for mistakes as well as successes within the team. This makes employees feel safe.
3. Accept your own mistakes: Leaders should set an example for their employees by openly admitting their own mistakes. This shows that making mistakes is a natural part of being human and makes it easier for employees to share their mistakes without hiding them.
4. Empathize: Try to understand employees' feelings and needs. Empathy is one of the cornerstones of trust.

The key to success: Psychological safety

Psychological safety at work is critical not only for employees to express themselves but also for the success of the company. Employees are more creative, productive and motivated in an environment where they feel safe. Therefore, leaders and human resource professionals need to build a positive culture in the workplace by focusing on psychological safety. In this context, you can create awareness and initiate change in your corporate culture by reading our Source magazine, where we discuss “Psychological Safety” from different perspectives, at https://kaynakbaltas.com/dergiler/psikolojik-guvenlik/#flipbook-df_12097/1/ . Remember, the key to productivity is to create a work environment where employees feel comfortable and safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does psychological safety increase productivity?

Psychological safety allows employees to freely share ideas and think innovatively. Without the fear of making mistakes, employees are more creative and collaborate more effectively in teams. This, in turn, increases the productivity of the workplace in general.

How can I increase psychological safety at work?

To increase psychological safety, encourage open communication, create a culture of learning from mistakes, build trust with your employees and support a culture of feedback. As leaders, you must create a work environment that helps your employees feel safe.

How does psychological safety impact employee engagement?

When employees feel valued and safe, they are more committed to their work. Psychological safety enables employees to express themselves and contribute at work. This increases employee engagement.