The power of a culture of candour

Which reality are you seeing?

Jack Welch, former CEO of GE, put it this way: ‘The team that sees reality the best wins’. 

For me, teams see reality best when they’re empowered to be candid. It’s certainly not a natural or comfortable state, which is why organisational claims to candour often stay on paper. But if, like many leaders, you’re thinking hard about what tech disruption means for your role, team and organisation, walking the talk of candour matters more than ever. 

How can you bridge the gap? This month’s Acumen explores ideas from Amy Edmonson and high-level strategies for setting up a real culture of candour and psychological safety in your team.

CADENCE CURATION

Watch / Listen: Building a Psychologically Safe Workplace | Amy Edmondson | TEDx | 11 mins

Amy Edmondson defines a psychologically safe workplace as a space where employees feel secure enough to speak up, share ideas and admit mistakes without fear of retribution. In this talk, she argues that fostering such an environment isn’t just about being nice: it’s essential for innovation, learning and team success. 

Edmonson shares powerful examples and research that highlight how leaders can cultivate psychological safety and why it leads to better decision-making and organisational outcomes. This video is a great place to start if you’re looking to drive real change in your workplace culture.

CADENCE TOOLKIT

Cadence Tool: Creating a Culture of Candour

We all have a threshold for voicing our opinions, and it’s your responsibility as a leader to push your team’s threshold down. An environment where it’s safe — or even expected — to speak up lies at the heart of some of the world’s most successful organisations, including Pixar, Bridgewater Associates and the US Navy Seals. 

This short Cadence video expands on what a culture of candour looks like and gives three high-level strategies for fostering your own.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

The meeting after the meeting, as seen in the meeting. (Source)