The Psychological Safety Bubble: When Too Much Safety Becomes a Hazard

Five misconceptions about psychological safety that cause teams to avoid storms and courageous conversations

Juan Moyano/ Stocksy

I've been navigating the complex waters of teamwork and collaboration since long before psychological safety became a buzzword. As a consultant, author, and founder of Fearless Culture, I've helped hundreds of organizations and teams navigate uncharted waters to build safer work environments.

However, as the concept of psychological safety has sailed into the mainstream, its true essence seems to have been lost at sea. Leaders mistake it as a protective bubble: A calm sea with no waves or storms.

Psychological safety is the North Star of high-performing teams.

The term, coined by Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson, refers to a shared belief that a team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking. It's a powerful concept.

The trouble is, the term is trickier than we realize, misleading people to focus more on "feeling safe" than on "taking risks." Overemphasizing safety can backfire, resulting in a culture of fear and anxiety.

It's time to correct the course. Psyc…