How safe does your team really feel? An honest look at psychological safety 🔍

Psychological safety – we hear about it often, but what does it really mean? It’s not about: always being friendly, receiving guaranteed applause for all your ideas, or having a team free of conflicts.

Psychological safety is about so much more. It’s about: 

➡️ Feeling heard, seen, and valued – regardless of your background. 
➡️ Having the freedom to ask questions, express doubts, and give feedback without fear that it will be held against you. 
➡️ Believing that your teammates support you and have your back, even when times get tough.

In The Fearless Organization, Amy Edmondson describes psychological safety as a critical building block for teams that truly want to move forward. It’s about a culture where making mistakes is not punished but seen as an opportunity to learn.

Want to know how your team measures up in this area? Try this simple yet powerful exercise (download it - only in Dutch). Ask team members to rate the following statements from 1 (completely disagree) to 5 (completely agree).

💬 What to do with the results?

These kinds of questions can help reveal areas where there’s room for growth, because let’s be honest: building psychological safety doesn’t happen in one day (or by doing one exercise). It takes time, open conversations, and a willingness to adapt.

Teams that actively work on this often see more connectedness, innovation, and engagement. Those that invest in psychological safety reap long-term benefits: innovation, better collaboration, and higher engagement. But when people don’t feel free to speak up, we often miss out on valuable ideas and insights.

💡 Tip

Invite your team to complete this checklist and discuss the results in your next meeting. This doesn’t have to be a big meeting; it can be an open moment to explore what people need to feel safer and to see where you can grow as a team together.

Disclaimer: This exercise is not a final diagnosis. It’s a starting point for an open conversation about safety and collaboration within your team.