Psychological safety: A key to human well-being and a sustainable work environment

Psychological safety: A key to human well-being and a sustainable work environment

Psychological safety is a crucial factor for human well-being and survival. It affects our ability to feel safe, valued, and capable of handling life's challenges. By understanding and promoting psychological safety, we can create environments that support our mental and physical health and improve our social relationships and productivity. This creates the foundation for a society where innovation, creativity, and human connection can flourish.

What is psychological safety?

Psychological safety refers to a work environment or group setting where members feel secure in taking risks without fear of negative consequences to their self-image, status, or career. It means that people in a group can speak openly about their thoughts, feelings, and opinions, ask questions, admit mistakes, and take initiative without fear of being humiliated, rejected, or punished.

Evolutionary perspective

Humans have survived since ancient times by belonging to a tribe that provided protection from dangers. Unlike monkeys, who find safety in trees, human survival has always depended on social cohesion. Our brains are wired to constantly be on alert for threats and to seek security in social groups. Being excluded from the tribe could mean certain death, equivalent to being thrown into the lion's den. Therefore, we have developed the ability to decode other people's intentions and feelings to ensure our place in the group.

Amygdala and the primitive brain

The amygdala, a part of our primitive brain, plays a central role in registering danger and triggering the body's stress responses. This small, almond-shaped structure is essential for our ability to react quickly to threats. When we experience psychological safety, the amygdala is less active, which promotes a state of calm and stability. But if we feel threatened or insecure, amygdala activity increases, which can lead to stress and anxiety. https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/viden/naturvidenskab/det-her-sker-i-din-hjerne-under-stress

Strong relationships are key to a longer and healthier life

In 1938, Harvard Medical School began following 724 men, systematically examining their physical and emotional well-being. Later, their spouses and children were also included in the study. The conclusion is clear:

• People who have secure and close relationships experience greater happiness, as well as better mental and physical health, than those with fewer warm relationships.
• People with secure and close relationships live longer.

Close and secure relationships allow us to share the things that weigh us down in our lives, which reduces our mental state of alert and creates balance. For further insight and details, see Robert Waldinger's inspiring TED Talk: What Makes a Good Life? TED TALK: https://www.ted.com/talks/robert_waldinger_what_makes_a_good_life_lessons_from_the_longest_study_on_happiness?hasSummary=true

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Investing in relationships

The Harvard study https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org shows that investing in relationships is an investment in our health and overall well-being. It is possible to realize greater potential in people and organizations through improved relational dynamics. Organizations should therefore strengthen the quality of their working relationships and take shared responsibility for creating a healthier and more satisfying work environment.

Psychological safety in everyday life

When we experience psychological safety, it contributes to emotional stability, positive feelings, self-regulation, improved mental efficiency, better memory, and a sense of care for our social connections. This safety also strengthens our resilience and immune system. Conversely, an environment characterized by negative input can lead to anxiety, stress, and the feeling of being threatened.

Self-perception and self-esteem

People are naturally inclined to compare themselves to others and seek confirmation. If we experience support and positive feedback from our environment, it increases our self-worth, self-confidence, and overall well-being. N.F.S. Grundtvig (1783-1872) considered self-esteem and the desire to learn as closely linked to participation in the community. Grundtvig's ideas emphasize how learning and personal development flourish in an environment characterized by psychological safety.

The importance of social skills

Good social skills, including social sensitivity and authentic interest in the opinions and feelings of others, are crucial for building and maintaining psychological safety. Teams with high social sensitivity have higher team IQ, which improves their ability to solve complex challenges and work innovatively and effectively together.

Sleep and psychological safety

Research published in the journal Science shows that sufficient sleep is a prerequisite for being able to accurately read other people's emotions and intentions. Lack of sleep can impair our ability to understand social cues, which can lead to misunderstandings and increased stress. Are you sleeping too little? - you are not alone. The Danish Health Authority has issued new recommendations for sleep duration for all age groups, which can be used as a benchmark for how long children, adolescents, and adults should sleep. https://www.sst.dk/da/nyheder/2024/Sover-du-for-lidt

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Pioneers in psychological safety

Amy Edmondson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Edmondson)  and Carl Rogers (https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Rogers) are two prominent figures in the understanding and dissemination of psychological safety. Amy Edmondson, a professor at Harvard Business School, is known for her groundbreaking work in the field of psychological safety. Since 1999, her research has shown that a work environment where employees feel safe to express their opinions and admit mistakes leads to higher innovation and better team performance. Her efforts have been crucial in understanding how leaders can create safe environments by promoting open communication and supporting employees' needs to feel valued and heard.

Carl Rogers was an American psychologist and one of the founders of humanistic psychology. Active from the 1940s to the 1980s, he is known for his client-centered therapy. Rogers believed that for people to develop and thrive, they must be in an environment where they feel accepted and valued without conditions. He also emphasized the importance of empathic understanding and authentic communication. Rogers' work emphasizes the importance of a non-judgmental, supportive atmosphere where individuals feel safe to express their thoughts and feelings, which is central to psychological safety. This focus on empathy and acceptance creates an environment where people can flourish and reach their full potential.

Psychological safety and creativity

Psychological safety increases a person's ability to solve challenges, think new and creative thoughts, and have the resources for empathy and increased inclusiveness for others. When people feel safe, they are more willing to take risks, share innovative ideas, and engage in collaborative problem-solving. This creates an environment where creativity and innovation thrive, and where everyone can contribute their unique perspectives without fear of negative consequences.

Psychological safety: The foundation for human well-being

Psychological safety is a fundamental factor for human well-being. It promotes collaboration, innovation, and productivity in teams and organizations. By understanding and promoting psychological safety, we can create environments that support our mental and physical health while creating economic value and sustainable growth. 

This form of safety affects our ability to feel secure, valued, and able to handle life's challenges. By creating and maintaining environments that support psychological safety, our social relationships and productivity are significantly improved. This creates the foundation for a society where innovation, creativity, and human connection can flourish, and where both individual and collective potentials can be fully realized.

Developing strong relationships and the work environment with Mind Balance System

Mind Balance System is based, among other things, on this knowledge of psychological safety and has developed a comprehensive analysis tool as well as training programs to improve employees' mental health. Our approach integrates research and practice to help companies create safe and supportive work environments. Mind Balance System promotes open communication, trust, and collaboration, which leads to higher employee satisfaction and lower staff turnover.

Through our analyses, companies gain in-depth insights into the relational dynamics in the workplace. Together with a certified Mind Balance trainer, companies can implement our customized training programs, designed to strengthen the social skills necessary to maintain psychological safety.

By implementing Mind Balance System's tools and methods, companies can move closer to a work culture characterized by psychological safety, resulting in higher innovation, better problem-solving, and greater employee engagement. Together, let us shape the workplaces of the future to be more sustainable, inclusive, and full of opportunities for growth and development.

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