What is Psychological Safety and Why Does Matters in the Workplace?

As someone who has spent years navigating diverse, global work environments, I’ve come to realize that one of the most critical factors influencing a team's success isn’t just skills or resources — it’s psychological safety. But what exactly is psychological safety, and why does it matter in a workplace?

In simple terms, psychological safety is the feeling an employee has that it’s OK to speak up, share one’s ideas, ask questions, or admit mistakes without fear of punishment or negative consequences. It’s a sense of confidence that your voice matters and you won’t be humiliated or ostracized for being vulnerable or honest.

Over the course of my career, I have had an opportunity to work for a number of great leaders who created psychologically safe environments where I was able to express my viewpoints and perspectives – and this lead me to trusting my leaders, even when they gave constructive feedback, because I knew they kept my best interest in mind. It led to me being a better employee, a stronger leader to my own team, and stronger loyalty to my organization.

For me, creating an environment of psychological safety feels like being part of a team where everyone’s opinion is valued, where mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities rather than failures, and where curiosity is encouraged rather than suppressed.

Psychological safety isn’t just a buzzword; it’s the foundation for a healthy, innovative, and resilient workplace. When people feel safe to be themselves and share openly, teams can achieve extraordinary things. For me, fostering psychological safety has been a key to not only better performance but also a more fulfilling and human working experience.