How to Create and Maintain Psychological Safety to Ignite High Performing Teams

Abstract: This article discusses how leaders can establish and maintain psychological safety to create high-performing teams. Psychological safety refers to feeling comfortable taking risks without fear of negative consequences. It outlines five strategies for building psychological safety based on professional experience and scholarly findings. These strategies include leaders modeling vulnerability, promoting inclusiveness, providing constructive feedback, connecting work to purpose, and celebrating small wins. Research cited shows psychological safety improves learning, innovation, problem-solving and stress resilience. Two strategies are described in real-world examples, including a manager who modeled vulnerability for her team. A manufacturing company case illustrates how diversity training and mixed work teams fostered psychological safety. Sustaining psychological safety long-term requires ongoing practices such as continued leader vulnerability modeling and feedback seeking. Creating this environment unleashes discretionary effort, agility, innovation and shared success.