Inclusion (HBR Emotional Intelligence Series)

3

Make Psychological Safety a Strategic Priority

By Maren Gube and Debra Sabatini Hennelly

The Covid-19 pandemic, geopolitical instability, and unpredictable markets have made organizational resilience like food in the desert: critical for survival but challenging to grow. By making resilience a strategic priority, leaders ensure that their organizations can stretch and adapt.

Much has been written about psychological safety’s role in improving workplace wellness. But to weather uncertainty, organizations also need to make psychological safety a strategic priority, creating a culture where employees can comfortably raise concerns, contribute ideas, and share unique perspectives.

Three cultural dimensions are critical for resilience:

• Integrity ...