Definition of Psychological Safety: According to the American Psychological Association, psychological safety refers to a shared belief held by members of a team that the team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking. It’s a sense of confidence that the team will not embarrass, reject, or punish someone for speaking up.

In my experience as a facilitator, creating a safe space—or container—for creative ideas and personal expression to flourish is paramount. When individuals feel psychologically safe, they are more likely to contribute, share innovative ideas, and engage fully.

Practicing The Four Agreements

When connecting with our colleagues, I've found it ideal to practice wisdom from Don Miguel Ruiz's The Four Agreements. In fact, I start almost all of my workshops with these as ground rules for how we operate during the session. This shifts the focus to having the mindfulness to look within and own your words and experiences.

Curiosity, Authenticity, and Candor

Let’s follow Alden Mills' wisdom: "What does it mean to deeply connect with others? It means you must bring curiosity, authenticity, and candor, a willingness to listen, and above all else a consistency to your intent to build connections."

Curiosity

In the realm of curiosity, I like to tune in to Marie Forleo's wisdom: "You believing and behaving as though everything is figureoutable will radically change your life. But when the people around you—friends, family, and colleagues—also believe and behave as though everything is figureoutable, you’ll become capable of experiences and achievements beyond your wildest dreams. First, it’s way more fun to solve problems and overcome challenges together. Second, a community you can count on instantly multiplies the mental, emotional, spiritual, and creative resources available. Third, you’re more likely to persevere in the face of setbacks when you have the support of others. Plus, the collaborative mix of ideas, strengths, and diverse perspectives often leads to far greater, richer results rooted in a deeper sense of purpose.”

Authenticity

For authenticity, I like Jim Kwik's wisdom on belief: Mindset (the WHAT): deeply held beliefs, attitudes, and assumptions we create about who we are, how the world works, what we are capable of and deserve, and what is possible. Motivation (the WHY): the purpose one has for taking action. The energy required for someone to behave in a particular way. Method (the HOW): a specific process for accomplishing something, especially an orderly, logical, or systematic way of instruction.

Candor

For candor, I like Don Miguel Ruiz's words on truth: "The truth is always evolving, and when we open ourselves to seeing the truth in everything, we start becoming more aligned with truth itself."

Consistency

Consistency requires wisdom and humility to recognize that you need to allow yourself to be in a vulnerable space to allow for connection, and the courage to realize that you need to keep acting in the direction of your truth to enable a deep connection. I like Albert Einstein's wisdom: "It's not that I'm so smart, It's just that I stay with problems longer."

In Lean Six Sigma, what is identified as a "problem" is actually an opportunity to improve.

Operationalizing Connection: The Scientific Method

To operationalize all of this, use the scientific method:

1. Observe: Identify your opportunity for connection.
2. Question: Actively listen to seek to understand. Ask clarifying questions. Remember to use open-ended questions to collect data and closed-ended questions to confirm understanding.
3. Hypothesis: Practice mirroring and paraphrasing to check for understanding—are you aligned?
4. Experiment: Test the boundaries of your connection. Try saying a joke, put a bid for shared interest or shared disagreement, find a micro moment of positivity resonance.
5. Analysis: See how the other person responded—did you create an opportunity to connect or an opportunity to learn and adjust?
6. Conclusion: Confirm your connection and make this the new baseline for your next interaction.

By applying these principles and steps, you can create a powerful and psychologically safe environment where true connection and collaboration can thrive.



References:

• American Psychological Association
• Don Miguel Ruiz's The Four Agreements
• Alden Mills' wisdom
• Marie Forleo's Everything is Figureoutable
• Jim Kwik's insights
• Albert Einstein's wisdom
• Lean Six Sigma principles