How can I increase psychological safety in my team?

Psychological safety is built over time through consistent behaviour, above all from the people who lead the team.

Some important levers are:

• clarify context and expectations
• encourage everyone to take part
• set an example through openness and transparency
• treat mistakes as an opportunity to learn
• recognise contributions explicitly

People watch a leader’s behaviour more than they listen to their recommendations: if the leader doesn’t speak up, the team is unlikely to. Conversely, if people experience that this behaviour is useful and not penalised, they are more willing to put themselves forward.