"We all know the feeling: You ask for candor and get a careful half-answer. That isn't stubbornness-it's self-protection. Psychological safety is the belief that you won't be judged, shamed, or punished for speaking up. When it's present, people report errors faster, share concerns earlier, and help each other learn-benefits documented across decades of research led by Harvard's Amy Edmondson. Her research shows that the best teams aren't those with the fewest mistakes; they are the ones who feel safe enough to talk about them."
"Social risk is visceral. Neuroscience shows that the brain registers social threat-like rejection or criticism-through pathways similar to physical pain. That's why "Tell me the truth" can feel like a cliff dive into icy water. The Safety Cycle warms the water. It's a simple sequence-Create Connection, Open Up, Radiate Resilience -that makes it safer, easier, and even appealing for others to speak honestly."
People often withhold honesty because speaking up feels socially risky rather than because of stubbornness. Psychological safety is the belief that speaking up will not lead to judgment, shame, or punishment, and it enables faster error reporting, earlier sharing of concerns, and mutual learning. Social threat activates neural pathways similar to physical pain, making blunt requests for truth feel threatening. The Safety Cycle—Create Connection, Open Up, Radiate Resilience—lowers the cost of candor by building trust in advance, choosing comfortable timing and settings, and responding with steadiness and appreciation. Small relational investments compound, making honest sharing more likely over time.
Read at Psychology Today
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