Change starts with you…

Most teams I work with will say they value learning fast, bold thinking and honest feedback. So why is there so much silent disagreement in the room?

Psychological safety is part of the answer, but not in the way we often think. You can’t create it by simply asking people to speak up. That’s why in my coaching work, we focus on tangible actions: making space for disagreement, reshaping how feedback is shared, and structuring planning so challenges and risks can surface early.

Here’s a deeper look at what makes and breaks psychological safety, plus a practical tool to help your team speak up, challenge ideas and move forward together.

CADENCE CURATION

Watch: Building a psychologically safe workplace | Amy Edmondson (TedX) | 12 minutes

Psychological safety is the proven foundation of teams that learn quickly, innovate boldly and perform under pressure. In this short talk, HBS professor Amy Edmondson explains why it’s often lacking and what you can do to build it in your team.

Watch to learn

• What really stops people speaking up at work (1:37)
• Why psychological safety is a performance driver (2:50)
• How leaders can create the right conditions for challenge and contribution (7:23)
• How safety and accountability can coexist, and why you need both (8:48)

CADENCE TOOLKIT

Tool: Candid Meeting Toolkit

Meetings are the acid test for team openness and candour. They’re also the ideal place to start building psychological safety, especially when conversations get uncomfortable.

Use the Cadence Candid Meeting Toolkit to understand how your team communicates when stakes are high, and move towards more open, honest and productive conversations.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

It’s not what you ask, it’s the way that you ask it!