A couple weeks ago I had the privilege of teaching middle school kids about leadership using the Habits of Mind. One of our activities was for the kids to co-create a behavioural descriptor of a leader they admired. We wanted to uncover what, in their experience, makes for a good leader.
“It’s someone who listens to you”
“It’s someone who makes you feel like you can get anything done”
“It’s someone who helps you understand how to do something if you don’t know how to do it”
“You feel like you can make mistakes with them and that’s totally fine”
What these 11 to 14-year-olds perfectly described was that a leader had to create psychological safety. Without any theory, they knew what was needed so they could thrive.
Somewhere along the way, adults lose the plot. Whether it’s through the competitive nature of the educational system, the politics in the office, or the capitalist structure of our culture, we seem to forget that this kind of leadership is necessary for individuals and groups to succeed.
What these wise young people highlighted is that psychological safety is not just a theoretical idea. It’s an intentional set of behaviours that leaders consistently demonstrate that create an environment where people feel supported.
It doesn’t happen by accident. Psychological safety occurs when leaders and group members are self-aware. It happens when group interactions are thoughtfully structured to create safety. It happens with practice, reflection, and learning. The byproduct is trust.
Our team has come together to design Human Teamwork, a practical and hands-on personalized learning approach for teams to redesign the ways in which they interact together, all while working on a specific area of their own work. Our first Beta group is almost completed, and already they are demonstrating a higher degree of trusting behaviours in meetings, balanced interactions from all participants in meetings (regardless of status), a greater ability to discuss important and heated issues constructively, and more effective and efficient decision-making…that sticks!
Human Teamwork is more than a skills development program. It’s a game changer.
Want to learn more about psychological safety? We have a short video (soon to be released) explaining what it is, and how you demonstrate it. Keep checking here for updates on research with The Coalition for Regenerative Work. Contact us if you want to know how you can access this unique, practical, and impactful program that can change the very nature of your team.
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