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

Fear is a powerful psychological gag that, in some (and in many) organizations, becomes part of the working uniform. It’s not only about the fear of punishment or being fired. People stay silent to avoid an awkward situation, not to lose face, or not to become a messenger with bad news. Not wanting to upset or offend the boss is also a common reason employees prefer to keep their opinions to themselves. Why is this dangerous for business? Why did a space shuttle crash, why did airplanes collide, and how did giants like Volkswagen and Nokia nearly go under?

In numerous examples from the most different industries, Amy Edmondson, a professor of leadership and management at Harvard Business School, shows that psychological safety affects not only an organization’s financial performance, but in certain cases also helps avoid collapse and real tragedies. Of course, not every idea is good and not every question is appropriate—but it’s far worse when employees are afraid to voice any ideas, ask questions, or report problems. Today, it is vitally important to create in organizations an environment where interpersonal climate doesn’t lead to suppression, silencing, mockery, or intimidation. To ensure there is always room for innovation in a company, you need an atmosphere that encourages the mutual exchange of knowledge between people! And knowledge includes, among other things, doubts, questions, mistakes, and failures.

Don’t be afraid to hear the truth—don’t aim only for good news. Start building a fear-free culture now, and very soon your business will get a powerful boost of knowledge, ideas, and innovation!