Psychological Safety in the Workplace – A Key to Team Success
March 1, 2025Psychological safety is a crucial concept for teams and leaders who want to build a positive, welcoming culture where everyone can thrive, learn, and grow. When individuals feel “safe” expressing themselves—whether asking questions, sharing ideas, or admitting mistakes—they experience psychological safety. It means they know their contributions will be met with an open mind, and that mistakes are seen as opportunities for learning rather than judgment.
While psychological safety is an individual experience, it often extends to the team as a whole, especially when good management practices are in place—such as active listening, support, and appreciation. According to research by Harvard Business School professor Amy C. Edmondson, teams thrive when members feel safe to share ideas openly, take calculated risks, and speak up without fear of judgment. This leads to a greater exchange of ideas, more diverse perspectives, and a wider pool of knowledge to inform decisions. It also fosters an environment conducive to continuous learning.
Dr. Marilyn Brink, the medical director at Animal Emergency and Specialty Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a passionate advocate for psychological safety. Her hospital has successfully built a culture that embodies this principle, which she sees having a direct impact on the success of her team. “You can have a mentorship program, and you can say you have medical support for your doctors, but if they don’t feel psychological safety in the space, then it’s not likely to be very effective,” she explains. “If a person thinks, ‘I’m going to ask a question,’ and then realizes someone is going to say something judgmental or hurtful, they’re very unlikely to ask a question again.”
The need for psychological safety extends beyond just mentor-mentee relationships—it’s also essential in peer-to-peer interactions. At Animal Emergency and Specialty Hospital, all ER doctors use a chat group to ask for help whenever needed. Any time, day or night, a doctor working alone can type their question into the chat, and they’ll receive a response from a colleague. “This is the realest example of psychological safety, because I have never, in all the years we’ve had this chat, seen anyone make a comment that was mean-spirited,” said Dr. Brink.
It’s clear that teams who feel psychologically safe work better together as a unit, becoming more effective and productive. In contrast, a lack of psychological safety can lead to increased stress, burnout, higher turnover, and a decline in overall organizational performance.
Dr. Brink’s hospital was initially focused on ER care before integrating specialists into the practice. “When we added specialists to the team, we were afraid that it might harm our culture, and that the specialists might provide feedback, or express concerns in a way that wasn’t constructive,” she explained. “Since then, we have added like-minded specialists who were specifically seeking a workplace with a culture that values collaboration through psychological safety. If someone is not collaborative or unable to take and give feedback in a constructive way, they don’t belong on our team.”
This commitment to psychological safety has been a key factor in the hospital’s strong employee retention rate. Dr. Brink shared, “We find that when vet student externs and new graduate veterinarians are choosing a job, we hear again and again that it’s not about the hours or even the pay, it’s about whether they feel safe and supported to learn.”
At Ethos, we recognize that psychological safety is a critical factor for attracting and retaining top talent. For prospective team members, especially those early in their careers or exploring new opportunities, psychological safety is often a deciding factor in choosing the right workplace. A culture that prioritizes open communication, mutual respect, and professional development fosters an environment where individuals can thrive. When employees feel supported to share their ideas, take risks, and make mistakes, they are more likely to engage fully, contribute their best work, and feel valued within the team.
If you’re looking for an organization where your contributions are heard, your growth is nurtured, and collaboration is at the core of the work culture, Ethos is the place for you. In teams that foster this environment, you’ll find a culture of belonging, support, and shared success.
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