For any organisation aiming for an inclusive, positive, and productive work environment, psychologically safety is crucial. But what does a psychologically safe environment look like? And why is it so important? 

Psychological safety has become a ‘must have’ for employers now. If an organisation lacks psychological safety, performance and retention suffer and improving diversity becomes almost impossible. This is particularly acute in construction, a predominantly male industry. 97% of workers in the industry experienced stress over the year with the majority feeling as though they were unable to share their concerns (Hazlegreaves, 2022). 

Psychological safety is important for every colleague, but through the diversity lens we can see it is a non-negotiable for sustainable change; it provides the foundation for new voices in an environment of experimentation and mutual respect.

At Vantage psychological safety is a core component of our practice, especially in our work with women leaders. 

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY?

Psychological safety describes an environment where people feel able to express themselves without fear that others will think less of them. In the workplace, that translates to employees feeling comfortable speaking up whether they’re sharing ideas, asking questions, expressing concerns, or acknowledging mistakes. When people feel comfortable being themselves and have a voice, it feeds back into the environment developing a climate characterised by interpersonal trust and mutual respect (Pindar, 2022). The more psychologically safe an environment, the more willing colleagues are to take risks, to trust in the process of the team, and trust in each other. 

WHY IS PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY IMPORTANT?

Creating a psychologically safe workplace is critical for inspiring your team to contribute fully each day. It provides each employee with the same opportunity to succeed, regardless of their circumstances. This kind of atmosphere will nurture creativity and foster the sharing of new ideas. When something does go awry, it can be addressed swiftly and productively in an open and trusting environment. People who are comfortable owning up to their mistakes will help identify issues early and address them before they become a major concern. It can also combat one of the most critical issues for organisation: retention. Research from the People Management Report has proven that psychological safety minimises employee turnover as ultimately, employees who feel safe in their team tend to stay in their job.

The case for creating a psychologically safe workplace is easy to make. An environment of trust and transparency facilitates engagement and human connection. It’s a place where problems can be identified and solved collaboratively, where creativity can flourish and difficult conversations can be had in a healthy way. It’s a place that recognises and supports the workforce of tomorrow, where greater diversity is imperative and new voices are heard. This is the foundation of an agile, efficient and resilient organisation, a successful organisation.

PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY IN ELEVATE

Psychological safety is at the heart of every Vantage programme, because we know that without the right conditions of trust and transparency, sustainable change for the good can’t happen. This year we’re bringing Elevate to the built environment. A programme to support and develop women leaders in the industry, and to give them the tools to propagate psychological safety and inclusive cultures within their organisation and into the future.

Contact Rachael at [email protected] to find out more.