Different Elements of Psychological Safety
Now that we have a basic understanding of what psychological safety is, it is important to think more deeply about the different dimensions of this concept and how this may show up in your workplace. Let’s learn more about this now!
The Dimensions of Psychological Safety
There are five key areas that psychological safety shows up in the workplace. Go through the slides to learn more about these different areas now.
The Relationship of Trust and Psychological Safety
Although distinct, the constructs of safety and trust in the workplace are strongly related.
Psychological Safety in the workplace consists of:
“taken-for-granted beliefs about how others will respond when one puts oneself on the line, such as by asking a question, seeking feedback, reporting a mistake, or proposing a new idea” (Edmondson, 2004, p.241).
Trust can be understood as having a general confidence and optimism in how events unfold, where people believe in others unless there are strong reasons not to. It is also shaped through social interactions and conversations. This makes trust a vital element in building respectful and psychologically safe workplaces, especially for Indigenous employees. However, trust has historically been undermined within Indigenous communities due to the power dynamics associated with colonialism, resulting in a lack of trust in public services, criminal justice, and other social systems. Acknowledging this historical context is imperative for establishing trust and ensuring Psychological Safety for Indigenous employees.
Trust is not only pivotal in building respectful and psychologically safe working environments but also plays a central role in various aspects of organizational life. It is a key element in healthy workplace relationships, cooperative actions, social capital development, risk-taking, task performance, and helping behaviours. Trust is essential for work engagement, workplace learning, knowledge creation, and reducing conflict and counterproductive work behaviours. Furthermore, trust acts as a mediator in the relationship between organizational initiatives and outcomes. Initiatives related to safety precautions, for instance, are more effective when there is a high level of trust in the workplace, resulting in increased safety-related behaviours, job satisfaction, and decreased turnover intentions.
Within the context of Psychological Safety, trust emerges as a critical component in fostering healthy workplace relationships and supporting cooperative actions that lead to a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment. Acknowledging the historical factors that have eroded trust is fundamental to building trust within Indigenous communities and promoting Psychological Safety. Trust significantly contributes to the overall well-being of the organization and its employees, aligning with the goals of Psychological Safety.
Reflection
Take some time to reflect on the following question. You can either write down your answer on your own or discuss your thoughts with a colleague or peer.
- How do you feel that trust is fostered on both an individual and organizational level in your workplace? What are some things you do in your daily life to both experience trust and create a psychologically safe environment at work?
