Introduction to Psychological Safety
Psychological safety is the premise that team members feel safe to be themselves, without fear of judgment or rejection. As defined by Horton International, it means feeling accepted, respected, and valued for who you are, as you are. This concept was first introduced by Amy Edmondson, a Harvard Business School professor, who emphasized the importance of creating a work environment where employees feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas.
The Importance of Psychological Safety in a Hybrid Workplace
In a hybrid workplace, where some team members work remotely and others work in-person, psychological safety is crucial for team success. Without the casual cues and quick clarifications that occur with in-person work, remote teammates rely heavily on their leaders' intentional, consistent communication. According to a recent article on Forbes, leaders must reveal their thinking to strengthen team trust, demonstrate consistency to deepen connection, and make check-ins personal to build real relationships.
Key Principles of Psychological Safety
The principles of psychological safety include creating an environment where team members feel included, valued, and empowered to contribute. As stated by Engage Employee, this can be achieved by implementing practical strategies that foster an inclusive culture. Some key principles of psychological safety include:
- Transparency: Leaders should be transparent in their communication and decision-making processes.
- Accountability: Leaders should hold themselves and team members accountable for their actions and performance.
- Feedback: Leaders should encourage feedback and create a safe space for team members to share their thoughts and ideas.
- Empathy: Leaders should demonstrate empathy and understanding towards team members' perspectives and experiences.
Revealing Your Thinking to Strengthen Team Trust
Revealing your thinking involves being transparent and open with your team members. This can be done by sharing your thought process, seeking feedback, and being willing to adjust your approach. By doing so, leaders can build trust and strengthen relationships among team members. For example, a leader can share their rationale behind a decision, explaining the factors that influenced their choice. This helps team members understand the leader's perspective and feel more connected to the decision-making process.
Demonstrating Consistency to Deepen Connection
Demonstrating consistency is essential for building trust and deepening connections with team members. Leaders must be consistent in their words and actions, and follow through on their commitments. This helps to create a sense of stability and predictability, which is critical for team success. Consistency also helps to establish clear expectations and boundaries, reducing confusion and ambiguity.
Making Check-Ins Personal to Build Real Relationships
Making check-ins personal involves taking a genuine interest in team members' well-being and lives. Leaders can do this by asking open-ended questions, actively listening, and showing empathy. By building real relationships with team members, leaders can create a sense of belonging and connection. For instance, a leader can ask a team member about their weekend, their family, or their interests outside of work. This helps to establish a personal connection and shows that the leader values the team member as an individual.
Practical Implementation: Strategies for Building Psychological Safety
To build psychological safety in a hybrid workplace, leaders can implement the following strategies:
- Hold regular team meetings to foster open communication and collaboration
- Encourage feedback and suggestions from team members
- Foster an inclusive culture by promoting diversity and equity
- Provide training and development opportunities to help team members grow and develop
- Celebrate successes and milestones to recognize team members' achievements
- Use technology to facilitate communication and collaboration, such as video conferencing tools or project management software
- Develop a clear communication plan that outlines expectations and protocols for remote and in-person communication
- Establish a feedback loop that allows team members to provide feedback and suggestions on a regular basis
- Create a psychological safety dashboard to track and monitor the team's psychological safety metrics
Benefits of Psychological Safety
The benefits of psychological safety are numerous and well-documented. When team members feel psychologically safe, they are more likely to:
- Share their thoughts and ideas
- Take risks and experiment with new approaches
- Collaborate and work together effectively
- Provide feedback and suggestions
- Feel engaged and motivated
- Experience reduced stress and anxiety
- Have better work-life balance
- Be more productive and efficient
Key Takeaways
The key takeaways for building psychological safety in a hybrid workplace are:
- Reveal your thinking to strengthen team trust
- Demonstrate consistency to deepen connection
- Make check-ins personal to build real relationships
- Foster an inclusive culture by promoting diversity and equity
- Provide training and development opportunities to help team members grow and develop
- Celebrate successes and milestones to recognize team members' achievements
- Use technology to facilitate communication and collaboration
- Develop a clear communication plan that outlines expectations and protocols for remote and in-person communication
- Establish a feedback loop that allows team members to provide feedback and suggestions on a regular basis
- Create a psychological safety dashboard to track and monitor the team's psychological safety metrics
Conclusion
In conclusion, psychological safety is a critical component of a successful hybrid workplace. By revealing their thinking, demonstrating consistency, and making check-ins personal, leaders can build trust and foster an inclusive culture. By implementing practical strategies and promoting diversity and equity, leaders can create a work environment where team members feel valued, included, and empowered to contribute. As the modern workplace continues to evolve, prioritizing psychological safety will become increasingly important for organizations that want to attract and retain top talent, drive innovation, and achieve long-term success. By following the key takeaways and implementing the practical strategies outlined in this article, leaders can create a psychologically safe environment that supports the well-being and success of all team members.
References
- https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbescoachescouncil/2025/12/09/how-to-build-psychological-safety-in-a-hybrid-workplace/
- https://hortoninternational.com/what-psychological-safety-looks-like-in-a-hybrid-workplace/
- https://www.engageemployee.com/blog/psychological-safety-in-hybrid-teams-creating-an-inclusive-culture-in-a-blended-work-environment