Safe to speak. Not soft.
Amy Edmondson defines psychological safety as a shared belief that the team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking. It isn't niceness, and it doesn't mean low standards.
Apathy
Low Safety · Low Standards
- People keep their heads down
- Nobody expects much, and nobody says much
Comfort
High Safety · Low Standards
- Pleasant, but not stretching
- Nice isn't the same as safe
Anxiety
Low Safety · High Standards
- High pressure, silent mistakes
- Problems surface late, if ever
Learning
High Safety · High Standards
- Candour, plus accountability
- Where performance is found
Source: Administrative Science Quarterly ↗
Safe to speak up. Expected to deliver.