Psychological safety

In theory

International literature about safety in organizations usually employs the concept psychological safety: “people’s perceptions of the consequences of taking interpersonal risks”. In a psychologically safe environment, people feel free to be themselves, express their thoughts, provide feedback, and report injustices, without fear of retaliation.

In practice

The concept of psychological safety is related to and overlaps with the concept of social safety. Social safety is primarily focused on the degree of societal and structural support through policies and programs, while psychological safety pertains to the interpersonal dynamics within a specific context, such as a workplace or a social group.

Based on her extensive research and experience, Amy Edmondson developed the “Fearless Organization Scan”. Using a 7-question survey, people can measure four dimensions of safety within their organization: willingness to help, inclusion & diversity, attitude towards risk & failure, and open conversation.