The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth

Fear is a powerful psychological gag that in some (in fact, in many) companies becomes part of the work suit. And it's not just fear of punishment or dismissal. People keep quiet to avoid embarrassment, loss of face, or being the messenger of bad news. Not wanting to upset or insult the boss is also not uncommon reason employees prefer to keep their opinions to themselves. Why is this dangerous for business? Why did the space shuttle go down, planes collide, and giants like Volkswagen and Nokia nearly go under? Amy Edmondson, Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School, uses examples from a wide range of industries to show that psychological safety not only affects an organization's financial performance, but in some cases avoids collapse and real tragedy. Of course, not every idea is good and not every question is appropriate, but it is much worse when employees are afraid to express any ideas, ask questions or report problems. It is vital today to create an environment in organizations where the interpersonal climate does not lead to suppression, silencing, ridicule or intimidation. To ensure that there is always room for innovation in the company, an environment that fosters the mutual exchange of knowledge between people is required! And knowledge includes doubts, questions, mistakes and failures. Do not be afraid to hear the truth, do not strive only for good news! Start building a fear-free culture now, and very soon your business will receive a strong charge of knowledge, ideas and innovation!