Addy Osmani’s Post

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Engineering Leader, Google Chrome. Best-selling Author. Speaker. AI, DX, UX. I want to see you win.

Psychological Safety is the secret to high-performing teams Ever wondered why some teams seem to effortlessly excel, while others constantly struggle? The answer might surprise you: it all comes down to psychological safety. Psychological safety is the magic ingredient that unlocks a team's true potential. When team members feel safe to speak up, challenge ideas, and take calculated risks, innovation thrives. What does it look like in action? Imagine a team where: - Ideas are openly shared, even if they're half-baked. - Honest mistakes are seen as learning opportunities, not reasons for blame. - Healthy debate is encouraged, leading to better solutions. In Google's Project Aristotle, we also found that Psychological Safety was a key factor in teams that were rated the most effective: https://lnkd.in/gmAMp_JS This great cheat sheet by Ronnie H. unveils two powerful tools: 1. Amy Edmondson's Matrix: This simple framework shows how the sweet spot of high performance lies at the intersection of psychological safety and clear standards. 2. 9 Actionable Tips for Leaders: These are battle-tested strategies used to cultivate psychological safety in teams. Here are some of these tips, with my personal insights: 1. Build Trust: Be transparent, keep promises, and follow through on commitments. My Tip: Share your own vulnerabilities and struggles. It shows you're human and encourages others to do the same. 2. Don't Blame: Focus on solutions, not fault. My Tip: Use "we" language to create a sense of shared responsibility. 3. Listen Actively: Pay attention not just to words, but also body language and emotions. My Tip: Ask clarifying questions and paraphrase to ensure understanding. 4. Normalize Failure: Mistakes are inevitable; view them as stepping stones to growth. My Tip: Celebrate learning moments and share stories of overcoming challenges. 5. Give Everyone a Voice: Encourage participation from all team members, not just the loudest voices. My Tip: Utilize anonymous surveys or suggestion boxes to gather ideas from introverts. Psychological safety is a necessity. Insist on it and watch your team transform. Download the cheat sheet and start building a safe space for your team to thrive! P.S. Repost to spread the word and make work a better place for everyone. ♻️ Follow Ronnie H. Kinsey, MBA, for more leadership insights like this. #motivation #productivity #leadership

  • The unspoken rule of the world's best teams:

Psychological safety is a game-changer. Why?

With it, teams excel. Without it, they struggle.
It’s the key to high performance and creativity.

What is psychological safety?
It's when team members feel safe to:

• Speak up
• Take smart risks
• Try new approaches
• Challenge one another

My cheat sheet presents:

➡️ Amy Edmondson’s Matrix

It’s simple yet powerful.
It shows you how combining psychological safety with
high standards leads to elite performance.

➡️ 9 Tips for Leaders to Create Team Safety

1. Build trust
2. Don't blame
3. Listen actively
4. Normalize failure
5. Give everyone a voice
6. Make yourself available
7. Check in with your team
8. Make it safe to take risks
9. Address issues right away

Psychological safety is essential.
Don't just aim for it—insist on it.

Ready to transform your team?
Start now.

Be the game-changing leader you were meant to be.
Taha Hussain

Engineering Career Coach | Microsoft, Yahoo, SAP, Carnegie Mellon | Engineering with People Intelligence

1y

I love the action list! For active listening, I’d add: reflect back their emotions. If someone is scared, avoid communicating, "You're blowing it out of proportion." Instead, acknowledge their feelings. This builds true understanding and connection.

Ronnie Kinsey, MBA

Coach to C-levels + High Achievers: PCC * Build Modern Leadership ✪ Growth + Wisdom to THRIVE * Experience Earned > 3 decades * Helping: C-suite, Founders, Thought Leaders * x-Fortune 100

1y

A business without Trust will Rust. Surprised to see this today - in a good way. Thanks for sharing my infographic on Psychological Safety - one of my all time favorite topics Addy Osmani

Robert Castle

🧭 Leadership Advisor | 🚀 Fortune 500 & Startup Exec | 🌐 CIO | 📖 Bestselling Author | 💡Strategist + 🎯 Exec Coach | ⚖️ Board Member

1y

Love this, Addy Osmani! 👏 Psychological safety is the game changer for team dynamics. Ever noticed how in teams with high psychological safety, there's this vibe that anything is possible? It's because everyone feels they can throw in their wildest ideas without fear of ridicule. Leaders, take note: fostering an environment where no idea is too 'out there' could be your ticket to groundbreaking innovations.

Lukas Stangl

Ranked #1 Austrian LinkedIn Creator | Google TPM | Follow for daily posts about Mindset, Personal Growth, and Leadership

1y

Project Aristotle is one of the very best proofs that psychological safety matters more than people think, Addy.

Malay Matalia

3x Founder | Speaker | Former Tax Attorney | Follow for Actionable Insights

1y

Very informative, Addy. Unlocking the full potential of a team hinges on cultivating an environment where members feel secure enough to share ideas, challenge assumptions, and take risks. Known as psychological safety, this concept has been identified as the secret ingredient that sets high-performing teams apart from the rest.

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Wesley C. Louw

Enterprise Data and Engineering Leader

1y

Very helpful!

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