In this episode, we reflect on the results from ENGAGE 2024: The Company Culture Report and wonder: “Why don’t employees have enough information to perform in their roles?”
We’ll discuss clear issues surrounding transparency and psychological safety in the workplace here. Mindy Murphy, employee engagement specialist/culture coach at Up Your Culture, will help Beth explore why employees aren’t receiving enough valuable information.
Understanding Psychological Safety
“In ENGAGE 2024, I saw some significant increases in the number of employees who feel unable to express their true selves at work,” Beth says, “That's something that concerns me. I wanted to get your take on that. But first, would you just explain what psychological safety is and why it is so important?”
“Sure,” Mindy says. “Psychological safety is the belief that you won't be punished for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes. So, it's an environment where people are comfortable being and expressing themselves.
“It is so important because it allows employees to feel safe speaking up, to take risks, challenge concepts, be creative, or solve problems. And that really leads to better problem solving, better decision making, and an overall higher level of trust in the workplace.”
“That makes perfect sense when you say it like that,” Beth says. “We learned that 43% can we expect as a result of that lower feeling of psychological safety?”
Mindy says, “That's a lot of people.
“Well, it can lead to a toxic work environment. It's kind of scary. Employees who don't feel safe expressing their thoughts can experience stress, anxiety, and burnout.
They're also less engaged, less productive, and probably less likely to collaborate. Ultimately, people stop sharing their thoughts, feelings and concerns, which can lead to disastrous results.
“I mean, the example that comes to mind for me is the airline manufacturer Boeing, which has been in the news a lot lately. Beth, you and I were just talking about this.
Beth and Mindy begin by dissecting the concept of psychological safety, highlighting its importance in fostering a workplace environment where employees feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and concerns without fear of repercussions. Mindy emphasizes how psychological safety leads to better problem-solving, decision-making, and overall trust among team members.
The Impact of a Lack of Psychological Safety
Mindy goes on to explain that when there is a lack of psychological safety, employees stop sharing their thoughts, feelings, and concerns. Such an environment can lead to disastrous results.
“The example that comes to mind for me is the airline manufacturer Boeing, which has been in the news a lot lately,” Mindy says. “About seven or eight years ago they were really known as the world's top airline manufacturer, but that all changed when they launched a new aircraft called the 737 MAX.
“It was supposed to be their most technologically advanced aircraft. There was a ton of demand for the new plane, but that put a lot of pressure on teams to meet production deadlines. That created major issues like equipment delays, quality defects, and employee burnout. All of those issues led to several safety concerns.
“A few frontline managers tried to voice their safety concerns, but when they did, they were actually punished for speaking up. Some even feared that they would lose their jobs. So, those safety issues remained unresolved, and we all probably remember what happened after that.
“In 2018, a Boeing 737 MAX crashed tragically, killing everybody on board, and a handful of months later, another one crashed.
“During the investigation, frontline managers testified that they were confident that the crashes could have been prevented if Boeing had that culture where people felt safe to speak up. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
“So, even if this type of disaster does not happen at your company, you can see how it can negatively impact business, employees, clients, and really everyone.”
Hear Mindy’s Full Thoughts in the Episode
Listen to the episode to hear Mindy’s full thoughts on the following takeaways:
- Why a lack of transparency in organizations can lead to increased distress and low morale amongst your people.
- How employees work in an environment where they feel uncomfortable sharing their concerns can lead to disastrous results.
- And, lastly, why forging trust with your people early on in their roles is key to ensuring they have the information they need to exceed at your company.
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