Psychological safety is the belief that you can speak up, take risks and put forward ideas, questions or challenges without facing ridicule or retaliation. When employees feel safe, they trust that they can admit mistakes, seek feedback or even fail without dire consequences, Dr. Edmondson said. And that can happen only in an environment in which employees feel secure and safe. But more often than not, it’s women — and especially women of color — who don’t feel safe in their workplaces. That women don’t feel secure enough to speak up at critical junctures is problematic for everyone, especially while navigating the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic, she said.

Source: New York Times March 16, 2021 01:30 UTC