Want people to tell you the truth?
Then they need to believe it’s safe to do so.
A team can look open, collaborative, and high-performing on the surface while people are still holding back concerns, softening bad news, or staying quiet when something isn’t working.
High standards without truth can quickly become performance theatre.
That’s where psychological safety matters.
It doesn’t mean lowering standards. It means creating the conditions for people to speak honestly before small problems become bigger ones.
In this short video, I explore what happens when leaders expect excellence but don’t create enough safety for people to say what they really think.
And for another practical resource, check out Disruptive Empathy: A Must-Have Future-Ready Leadership Skill.
