Facilitation · Ongoing application; 1-2 hour training session

Core Behaviors for Psychologically Safe Leadership

A set of three actionable leadership behaviors designed to reduce the interpersonal risk of speaking up. These behaviors shift the group focus from 'execution-only' to 'continuous learning.'

When to use Core Behaviors for Psychologically Safe Leadership

During manager training, facilitator onboarding, or when launching a complex project with high uncertainty.

How Core Behaviors for Psychologically Safe Leadership works

Facilitators should model these behaviors throughout a session to set the tone. Instructional designers can build 'Curiosity Sprints' or 'Failure Debriefs' into the curriculum to practice these behaviors.

Phases of Core Behaviors for Psychologically Safe Leadership

  1. Frame work as a learning problem
  2. Acknowledge own fallibility
  3. Model curiosity by asking questions

Key principles

  • Leaders must proactively invite input to overcome the natural instinct to stay silent
  • Vulnerability from the leader signals safety to the group
  • Questions are more effective than directives for building engagement

Best for

  • Leadership Development
  • Soft Skills Training
  • Facilitator Competency

Considerations

  • Requires a high degree of emotional intelligence from the leader
  • Can be difficult to implement in cultures that traditionally punish mistakes

Attribution & sources

Developed by Amy Edmondson, 2018

Primary source

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