Happy October!
To support you in being F.I.R.S.T. (Future-Ready. Innovative. Relevant. Strategic. Trusted.), here’s 1 tip and 1 quote.
The F.I.R.S.T. Tip
Google’s landmark Project Aristotle revealed that the single biggest predictor of team success and workplace culture wasn’t IQ or experience, but psychological safety at work, the belief that people can speak up without fear of embarrassment or retribution.
The impact is real:
- Gallup found employees who feel their opinions count are 6x more likely to be engaged at work.
- Deloitte reports that teams with high psychological safety achieve 20% higher productivity and significantly stronger innovation.
A senior leader from one of our multinational clients noticed a shift after embedding psychological safety practices. Instead of a few dominant voices, their leadership meetings became more balanced. Candid feedback surfaced, decisions accelerated, and trust levels rose tangibly.
3 ways leaders can foster psychological safety in the workplace:
1. Model vulnerability.
Share your own learnings and mistakes to set the tone for openness.
For example:
“I assumed this strategy would work, but I was wrong. Here’s what I learned. What do you see that I might be missing?”
This signals that mistakes are data, not shame. It reduces fear and opens the door for others to contribute honestly.
2. Shift from “Fix-It Mode” to “Listen-to-Learn Mode”
In difficult conversations, leaders often rush to solve. Instead, pause and listen deeply before offering solutions.
For example:
“Tell me more about what’s most important to you here.”
“What would good look like from your perspective?”
This moves the conversation from defensiveness to co-creation, building trust and shared solutions.
3. Equalise the air time.
In meetings, watch for the “2–3 loudest voices” dynamic. Use micro-techniques:
- Round-robin check-in: “Let’s hear one thought from each person before we move on.”
- Permission-granting phrases: “I’d like to pause here… [Name], we haven’t heard your perspective yet.”
This makes inclusion visible and systematic, not left to chance.
From Nice to Necessary
Psychological safety is not about being “nice.” It’s about creating the conditions for trust, candor, and courage where people feel free to contribute ideas, challenge assumptions, and speak the truth.
This philosophy is at the heart of our F.I.R.S.T. Leadership Framework, designed by Influence Solutions to help organizations thrive in disruptive times.
- Future-Ready: leaders who anticipate change, not just react to it.
- Innovative: leaders who encourage experimentation, not perfection.
- Relevant: leaders who stay connected to what truly matters.
- Strategic: leaders who align decisions with long-term impact.
- Trusted: leaders who create safe spaces for people to bring their best selves.
When leaders make psychological safety intentional, they lay the foundation for high-trust, high-performance cultures.
At Influence Solutions, we partner with organisations to design cultures where people feel safe to contribute, challenge, and grow. We empower leaders to build psychological safety as a foundation, one that strengthens trust, boosts engagement, and drives high performance.
👉 Want to create a workplace where mental wellness and performance thrive together? Let’s talk.
The F.I.R.S.T. Quote
