What do we mean by psychological safety?

It`s a term we hear a lot in the HR and coaching world. But I find it frustrating because it doesn`t feel easy to relate to.

On my recent Master`s course, it was referred to as `containment`. Yuck, that`s possibly even worse.

In a nutshell, we`re talking about people feeling comfortable enough to be vulnerable. Being happy to be themselves, authentic and honest, without fear of judgement.

I delivered a project recently which illustrates this perfectly.

The team in question had a very remote manager. They saw her at the most, once every six to eight weeks.

She spends some time with them online, but is relatively inaccessible.
I ran a three month process where I met with the team once every two weeks at exactly the same time, on exactly the same day, just to listen to them.

This provides them with psychological safety and suddenly they start doing different things and experimenting and trying stuff because they feel that someone is holding them. In this sense, I can see where the word `containment` comes from.

The transformation in the team was incredible and it provided a very clear, unequivocal example of the importance of letting people feel this way, whatever name we want to give to it.

What terms do you use for psychological safety? Please do share in the comments. ...

I was reminded recently of a concept that really resonates with me. It`s actually the title of Glennon Doyle`s podcast, which she hosts alongside her wife Abby Wambach, and her sister Amanda Doyle.

It`s called We Can Do Hard Things and I was reminded by Kamala Harris using the phrase in one of her speeches. (She was a recent guest on the podcast).

The reason I love this concept so much is because it`s in the uncomfortableness that we grow as people.

If we`re willing, as individuals or as groups or even as society, to lean in to doing hard things then we will evolve but it will be messy.

If we want to make change that`s worthy it can`t be easy.

These days, we`re constantly bombarded with hacks and shortcuts and instant gratification. But that`s not how life works. If things are worth doing they`re worth doing properly and they take time and they take emotion and they take effort and commitment.

And that`s why we should always try harder. Even when we think there`s no progress to be made. Especially when we think there`s no progress to be made.

There`s a link to the podcast on Spotify here https://open.spotify.com/show/0eFL5HJejQHZrdgAFdPnOm but you can listen wherever you subscribe. ...

I felt compelled to reflect on July - it`s been a month!

I think my reason for feeling this was has to do with my interest in leadership. What a month for examples, both good, bad and ugly, in all walks of life.

We`ve had the election here in the UK where, in my opinion, the public `fed back` on the sort of leadership they`d like to see consigned to the history books. Whatever your political allegiance, I think this was a vote for authenticity.

We`ve seen the England men`s team almost make it - so many examples of leadership here from the obvious to the subtle. Gareth Southgate has bought a new style to managing the team, much more holistic and constructive. He coached the team in football but also in how to build relationships with fans, the media and each other. For me, this type of growth is far more positive than winning any tournament (easy for a rugby fan to say!)

We`re also watching something historical playing out across the pond. I could write a book on the leadership lessons in their political sphere - from the Messiah-like behaviour of Trump to the importance of Biden considering the bigger picture in his decision making. And, I am blown away by these early days of the Kamala Harris campaign; she must be holding the hearts and dreams of so many women, girls, and minorities in her hands. Politics aside, let`s hope for another vote for what can surely only bring some balance and sense to the world.

I think my overwhelming takeaway, and perhaps the point of this post, is to say to anyone leading anyone - think about why you lead. Think about why you want people to follow you. Think about the fact that leadership doesn`t have to mean control, dominance, power.

Choose the type of leadership that involves openness, authenticity and one which, given a choice, people would enthusiastically follow. ...

Regular followers will know that I love reading and often recommend books.

But there`s something really special about finding a book which resonates in a personal way.

Gabriella Braun`s `narrative nonfiction` All That We Are does just this - she studied the Masters` Degree that I am just completing my dissertation for, and wrote this book as a result of her learning plus a career of consulting with organisations.

In it she explores the behaviours we exhibit at work and how these have been influenced by our history, both at home and in our jobs.

The way she describes her subject matter is captivating - the book is a series of short chapters, each of which recounts a real-life experience with a deep dive into how it came about.

This storytelling approach makes it so much easier to see and understand why people behave the way they do and why we simply cannot ask people to separate out their professional and personal emotional selves.

We are way too complicated for that.

I`d thoroughly recommend reading this if workplace behaviours or team dynamics are your thing, and also for personal enlightenment, which I have definitely benefitted from since first picking it up.

Perhaps you`ve read it already? I`d love to know your thoughts if you have. Leave a comment on what you thought of it. 👇 ...

What do you choose to believe?

Our brains can be very persuasive which is why it`s important to work on self belief. If you have a negative internal dialogue, your beliefs can easily sabotage your efforts at success.

However, here are three things you can do to quiet the background narrative:

1. Remind yourself you have a choice in what to listen to. If negative words and phrases are a subconscious habit of yours, you need to decide whether it’s one that serves you. If not, it needs to be broken;

2. See negative thoughts for what they are: our brains are designed to keep us alive. That’s the short, sharp total of it. It will literally avoid risk, even if that is the risk of getting a little puffed out on the morning run. This risk aversion needs calibrating by our conscious mind which can reason the positives as well as the risks of any action we take;

3. Chat to those you know and trust about negative thoughts. Just saying things out loud can help put them in perspective and balance the facts and myths racing in your head; ...