Dear Future Leader

Dear Future Student,

During my MBA studies, I completed an engaging course titled “Leading Teams”. The course provided valuable insight into how effectively develop and lead successful teams. Several key topics were discussed throughout the course, but one topic resonated with me, and I would like to share my personal perspective and experience.  

During our diversity and trust module the concept of psychological safety within teams peaked my interest. Psychological safety is the foundation of any relationship, as it fosters a safe environment where team members should feel comfortable at expressing their opinions while being vulnerable. To aid in finding safety among the team, the Five C’s framework is a valuable tool to consider. These C’s represent the essential elements that contribute to a safe and productive relationship:  Clarity, Contribution, Confidence, Comfort and Connect. Clarity, making sure the team understands its mission, clearly outlining goals and making sure everyone is onboard. Contribution, everyone should provide their ideas and place value on their perspectives. Confidence, building that trust among the team by learning from mistakes and wins. Comfort, creating the environment for the team to flourish without any judgement. And, Connection, making sure there is connect from all team members. This framework is critical for understanding how important psychological safety impacts decisions.

Reflecting on my own career, I can now recognize how individuals who are hesitant to express their opinions may find themselves in an unsafe environment that prevent them from feeling comfortable by sharing their thoughts. I personally can be attested to feeling unsafe to voice my opinions. I also connected psychological safety can go hand in hand with the Five Dysfunctions of a Team. The correlation between the two are important. The foundation of a successful team lies in trust, and the bottom tier of the pyramid represents the importance of that trust.

I challenge you to establish a space where your team members can trust one another. This opportunity can be applied to a team you are managing or a team you may be collaborating with. While you may not have the ability to select your team, you do have a role in fostering connections within the group. Creating psychosocial safety within the team may take time, but you will likely experience a positive return on your investment. And remember, psychological safety is crucial for effect team leadership by creating the safe space for open communication, collaboration, decision-making and overall team success.

Derek