The Fearless Organization

Safety First

Imagine a workplace where people feel free to share their reactions, opinions and constructive criticism without fear of reprisal – where all ideas, questions and feedback elicit appreciation and an earnest response instead of rebuke or ridicule. Imagine how organizations in creative or knowledge-based industries could benefit from having everyone’s ideas. Imagine how many lives hospitals could save if nurses felt not only safe but obligated to question other nurses and physicians respectfully. Imagine how the United States could have avoided the Columbia and Challenger space shuttle disasters, if only junior engineers had felt secure enough to raise their concerns.

Most organizations pay lip service to psychological safety, but don’t provide it. This discourages risk taking, idea sharing and rigorous decision making. In fearless organizational cultures, people feel ethically obligated to speak up, share knowledge and ideas, and offer constructive feedback. This accelerates learning and knowledge sharing among employees.

Welcoming ideas – and recognizing...