Leaders’ Psychological Bravery

Much has been written about the importance of psychological safety (Edmondson & Lei, 2014).Creating an environment in which everyone feels secure to express themselves and take risks without fear of negative consequences is a critical responsibility of any leader.But what does it take for a leader to cultivate this kind of safety on their team, within their unit, or across their organization?The answer lies in what we call psychological bravery.To build a culture of true psychological safety, leaders must possess psychological bravery, the mental strength and courage to take risks, to embrace ambiguity, to make difficult decisions, and to stand firm in the face of adversity.Leaders' psychological bravery involves their willingness to confront fear, uncertainty, and potential criticism while maintaining a commitment to excellence, integrity, and ethical standards.