I asked 100 employees to finish this sentence: I’ll feel safe at work when…
And what they said?
Broke my heart.
Most people think psychological safety is about HR policies and anonymous surveys.
It’s not.
Real safety lives in the body & minds
Let me show you: I recently sat down with employees of a very well known company.. Gave them one sentence. And waited
“I’ll feel safe at work when…”
Here’s what came up. Again and again:
…when I know I won’t be blamed for mistakes.
…when I can speak without being seen as difficult.
…when my manager doesn’t look annoyed during 1:1s.
…when I don’t feel like an imposter every morning.
…when someone finally says what we’re all thinking.
Not a single person mentioned: The core values on walls. Mission statements. Company retreats. DEI initiatives.
The truth is psychological safety isn’t built through policies. It’s created through a safe environment. Physically and mentally.
Your team’s brains can’t access creativity, innovation, or critical thinking when they’re scanning for social threats.
Every time someone:
– Checks their manager’s facial expression before speaking
– Withholds an idea out of fear
– Apologizes before contributing
Their brain is choosing survival over performance.
The companies winning talent wars aren’t just offering better compensation.
They’re creating environments where nervous systems can relax enough for brilliance to emerge.
Because high performance isn’t about pushing harder.
It’s about removing the psychological brakes first.
So please stop focusing exclusively on what your team produces. Start noticing how their bodies respond when you enter the room.
That’s where your real metrics live.
What’s one sign that your team feels psychologically safe with you? Share below.
