Psychological Safety in the workplace.
What Is Psychological Safety in the Workplace? Why It’s the Secret to Thriving Teams
We talk a lot about employee engagement, retention, and culture—but rarely do we talk about the foundation that makes all of those things possible: psychological safety. So let’s break it down: what is psychological safety in the workplace, and why does it matter?
Psychological safety means people feel safe to speak up, ask questions, make mistakes, and not have all the answers—without fear of ridicule or punishment. It’s not about lowering standards; it’s about creating an environment where humans can actually learn, grow, and contribute without constant fear of judgment.
What Is Psychological Safety in the Workplace?
At its core, psychological safety in the workplace is the belief that you won't be embarrassed or punished for admitting a mistake, offering a new idea, or asking for help. It’s the opposite of a “gotcha” culture—it’s an “I’ve got you” culture. And when people feel supported rather than scrutinized, innovation and collaboration thrive.
Celebrate Mistakes? Yes—With Failure Parties
You read that right. If you're still asking, what is psychological safety in the workplace, here’s a fun example: failure parties. These are intentional moments to reflect on what went wrong, what we learned, and how we move forward. Because let’s face it—fail really just stands for First Attempt In Learning. When leaders normalize failure as part of growth, it unlocks creativity and confidence in teams.
Intentionality Matters
Creating psychological safety isn’t accidental—it requires intentionality. That means leaders must go beyond just being “nice” or “supportive.” They need to be deliberate about creating structures, language, and behaviors that reinforce safety. This includes everything from modeling vulnerability to creating space for different voices and perspectives to be heard and respected.
Intentionality Group: Helping Leaders Build the Tools
This is where Intentionality Group comes in. Our mission is to help organizations not only understand what is psychological safety in the workplace—but actually build and sustain it. We equip leaders with the right tools in their toolbelt to foster environments where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive. Because when people feel safe, they do their best work.
Five Ways to Build Psychological Safety Today
Still wondering what is psychological safety in the workplace and how to start creating it? Try these simple, intentional steps:
Model curiosity. Ask questions you don’t know the answer to. Normalize learning.
Celebrate effort, not just outcomes. Recognize people for taking risks and contributing.
Host a failure party. Create space to laugh, learn, and grow from mistakes together.
Invite feedback—and act on it. Make sure voices are not just heard, but valued.
Use inclusive language. Encourage diverse perspectives and avoid blame.
The bottom line? If you want teams that are innovative, resilient, and engaged, you have to start with psychological safety. So the next time someone asks you, “what is psychological safety in the workplace?”, tell them it’s the intentional choice to make people feel safe enough to be themselves—and bold enough to do their best work.
Ready to build that kind of culture? Intentionality Group can help.