Enhancing Team Performance through Psychological Safety with Mehmet Baha

Andy Storch recently had an insightful conversation with Mehmet Baha, a leading expert on psychological safety and author of the book "Creating Psychological Safety at Work: The Essential Guide to Boosting Team Performance." In this episode, Baha delved deep into the concept of psychological safety, its importance within organizations, and actionable ways to cultivate it. Here are key takeaways to help you foster a psychologically safe environment in your company.

Understand the Essence of Psychological Safety

Mehmet defines psychological safety as a work environment where employees feel safe to express their questions, concerns, ideas, and mistakes. Research shows that when employees feel their opinions count, there’s a 27% reduction in employee turnover, a 40% reduction in safety incidents, and a 12% increase in employee productivity. Understanding and promoting this concept can significantly boost team performance.

Foster an Open and Transparent Culture

At Facebook, one of the key pillars of its psychological safety was its culture, particularly the value of openness. Being open about expectations, goals, and feedback created an environment where employees felt heard and valued. To foster a similar culture:

- Clearly define and communicate your organizational values.
- Encourage open communication across all levels.
- Integrate these values into recruitment, performance management, and daily practices.

Empower Leaders to Model Psychological Safety

Leadership plays a crucial role in establishing psychological safety. At top-performing companies, leaders are trained to empower employees, encouraging them to take risks, start initiatives, and learn from mistakes. Encourage your leaders to:

- Participate in coaching, communication, and empowerment training.
- Create a safe space for team members to voice concerns and ideas without fear of retribution.

Design Strategic Processes that Support Safety

Strategic design involves creating processes, tools, and systems that foster psychological safety. For example, Facebook had an internal group called Ideas, where employees could share improvement ideas freely. To replicate this:

- Implement communication tools that promote information sharing and collaboration.
- Create platforms where employees can submit ideas and receive feedback.
- Build appreciation into your processes, regularly recognizing and valuing employee contributions.

Handle Change with Psychological Safety in Mind

Change is inevitable, whether it’s due to geopolitical shifts, technological advancements, or organizational restructuring. Mehmet outlines three focal points for managing change effectively:

- Global Crises: Leaders should support employees impacted by crises, offering resources and compassion.
- AI Advancements: Emphasize human skills such as empathy, curiosity, and authenticity, which are crucial in an AI-dominant future.
- Organizational Change: Focus on movers (enthusiastic supporters), gain the trust of movables (neutral employees), and gently address the concerns of immovables (resistors).

Integrate Psychological Safety into Learning and Development

Curiosity is key to fostering psychological safety in learning environments. To create such an environment:

- Encourage open dialogue and questions without judgment.
- Use open-ended, empathy-oriented, and specific questions to engage participants.
- Design learning experiences that promote a safe and inclusive space for all employees.

Connect Psychological Safety with DEI Initiatives

Psychological safety is fundamental to achieving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Mehmet underscores the need to include employees in decision-making processes, fostering a sense of belonging. To enhance DEI:

- Create forums where diverse voices can be heard and valued.
- Encourage an inclusive approach to decision-making, involving employees at all levels.
- Prioritize psychological safety in all DEI initiatives to ensure an environment where everyone feels they belong.

Maintaining psychological safety in your organization requires intentional efforts, consistent practice, and a commitment to fostering an open and inclusive culture. By implementing these strategies, you can create a workplace where employees feel safe, valued, and motivated to contribute their best.

For a deeper dive into these insights, be sure to listen to the full episode on the Talent Development Hot Seat Podcast! Also, you can learn more from Mehmet's book, "Creating Psychological Safety at Work: The Essential Guide to Boosting Team Performance," available on Amazon.