Creating a Psychollogically Safe Workplace - Key actions from Emeka Edwin-Nweze

In our moving and thought-provoking NPSN webinar session, our members heard Emeka Edwin-Nweze share valuable insights into creating a thriving work environment.

A pioneering leader in the health and community services sector, Emeka shared his remarkable story and emphasised the importance of psychological safety as a cornerstone for high-performing teams.

Emeka outlined key actions to foster such an environment.

1. Define Psychological Safety:

Clarity is key: Establish a shared understanding of what psychological safety means within your organisation.

Differentiate from psychosocial safety: Avoid confusion between these concepts, recognising that psychological safety is about creating a culture of trust and open communication.

2. Foster a Culture of Trust:

Encourage open dialogue: Create a space where employees feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, ideas, and concerns without fear of retribution.

Promote collaboration: Encourage teamwork and problem-solving to build trust and camaraderie among team members.

Value diverse perspectives: Embrace differences and create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

3. Eliminate Fear:

Create a safe space: Ensure that employees feel safe to speak up to say, “I make a mistake”; “I don’t know how to do that”; “I got that wrong.”

Empower leaders to engage: Equip leaders to have conversations about the culture and behaviours their teams want to foster and practice

Promote a learning culture: Encourage experimentation and learning from mistakes, rather than punishing failures.

4. Lead by Example:

Model desired behaviours: As a leader, demonstrate the behaviours you expect from your team, such as open communication, empathy, and respect.

Encourage vulnerability: Show your own vulnerability to create a safe space for others to do the same.

Provide support and guidance: Offer support and guidance to your team members, helping them to overcome challenges and develop their skills.

5. Create Systems and Processes:

Define expectations: Clearly outline the behaviours and attitudes expected in a psychologically safe environment.

Implement systems: Develop systems and processes that support a culture of trust, open communication and collaboration.

Provide training: Offer training and development opportunities to help employees understand and practice the principles of psychological safety.

By implementing these key actions, organisations can create a psychologically safe workplace where employees feel empowered to contribute, innovate, and thrive. This, in turn, leads to increased productivity, job satisfaction, and overall organisational success.