Skip navigation
The Psychological Safety Playbook
Book

The Psychological Safety Playbook

Lead More Powerfully by Being More Human

Karolin Helbig, 2023
First Edition: 2023 more...

Buy the book


Editorial Rating

9

getAbstract Rating

  • Applicable
  • Well Structured
  • Concrete Examples

Recommendation

In their concise and insightful guidebook, consultants Karolin Helbig and Minette Norman offer 25 actionable tips leaders can implement immediately to improve psychological safety at work. They outline five skills leaders must harness to do so: communication; listening; emotional regulation; managing failure; and inclusion. Each of the five skills is handily accompanied by five ways to implement them. Accessible and inspiring, this handbook fills a long-standing gap in the literature on psychological safety: exactly how to nurture it in relationships, teams and cultures.

Summary

Everyone needs to feel psychologically safe to reach their full potential.

After studying hundreds of teams, Google’s Project Aristotle found that psychological safety was the most important element in group success. When people feel psychologically safe, they can ask questions, pose ideas, state concerns and admit mistakes without fear of being humiliated or punished. Psychological safety leads to more inclusive, innovative, and high-performing cultures.

As a leader, your role is to set the tone. Ensure that everyone feels valued, and create an environment where people feel safe to contribute ideas, express dissent, and challenge you when necessary. Model the behavior you seek – including listening, humility, trust and openness to criticism – to encourage the same actions in others.

Communicate courageously: Welcome diverse viewpoints – and don’t insist on your own.

When leaders drop the need to be right all the time and actively invite other points of view, they foster a psychologically safe environment that enhances innovation and outcomes.

  1. Invite varied viewpoints – Welcome a variety of perspectives; this will make people...

About the Authors

Karolin Helbig is a mind-set coach for executives. Minette Norman is a leadership consultant and former Silicon Valley executive who works with companies to build more inclusive cultures.


Comment on this summary

More on this topic

Related Skills

Be Emotionally Intelligent
Become More Adaptable
Build and Maintain Well-Being
Develop Innovative Products
Digital Transformation
Drive Team Performance
Enhance Cybersecurity
Entrepreneurship
Human Resources
Lead Ethically
Live Well
Manage Change
Manage Learning and Development
Management
Navigate Leadership Challenges
Personal Growth
Promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Shape Organizational Culture
Strengthen Team Collaboration
Workplace Skills
Create a Sense of Belonging
Motivate Your Team
Foster Team Culture
Lead Inclusively
Practice Transformational Leadership
Recognize Social Cues
Build Security Culture
Cultivate a Growth Mindset
Understand Communication
Promote Failure-tolerance
Practice Servant Leadership
Communicate Non-Verbally
Develop Self-Mastery
Practice Mindfulness
Improve Your Mental Health
Excel at Conversations
Be Coachable
Cultivate Positivity
Understand Yourself
Champion New Ideas
Show Empathy and Compassion
Navigate Difficult Conversations
Promote Generational Inclusion
Lead through Change
Champion Diversity
Use Humor Effectively
Dare to be Vulnerable
Lead Yourself
Promote a Learning Culture
Challenge Assumptions
Communicate Across Cultures
Build an Inclusive Culture
Communicate Inclusively
Develop Self-Awareness
Master Interpersonal Skills
Collaborate Creatively
Build Psychological Safety
Encourage Experimentation
Be Creative
Communicate Transparently
Cultivate Curiosity
Soft Skills
Leadership
Promote Creativity
Be Authentic
Facilitate Discussions
Communicate Effectively
Innovation
Ask Questions
Foster a Culture of Innovation
Practice Humility
Foster Open Communication
Take Other Perspectives
Facilitate Group Ideation
Embrace Divergent Thinking
Listen Well