Can Organizations Be Too Psychologically Safe?
It depends on how you define psychological safety. If you define it as making things comfortable or easy or secure for people, then yes, you can have too much psychological safety. I define psychological safety as simply a place where people can be honest. Honesty means that you can speak accurately about work progress, challenges, […]
FROM TRANSITIONS TO TRANSFORMATIONS: Exaggerating The Essential
My good friend Allan is currently in the hospital recovering from surgery that removed his voice box in response to a rare kind of throat cancer. He’s relying on tubes inserted into his abdomen for fluids and food. As a psychiatrist whose career relied on speaking and sharing his wisdom, his life will never be […]
We talk a lot about safety
We talk a lot about safety: product safety, traffic safety, bicycle safety, workplace safety, nuclear safety, etc. and I teach leaders how to create workplaces that are psychologically safe. This focus on safety in our chronically anxious society could lead us to believe that safety is the most important value in life. Safety is certainly […]
What is your Noah Project?
Noah’s project—the building of an ark—was a monumental undertaking with an enduring legacy. Despite skepticism and ridicule, Noah’s project symbolized visionary leadership and the power of perseverance for generations. His story continues to inspire people, a lasting example of how a single project, rooted in faith and determination, can have an impact that endures long […]
BREAKING THE ROUTINE: Why Change Really is as Good as a Rest
As I turn 70 next year, I have the good fortune of gaining some new perspective on my life. A lot of people look forward to the day they can “retire,” finally able to slow down, rest, and do nothing. But some of the happiest people I’ve met are not the ones who define “retirement” […]
Strong Fences, Open Gates: Mastering the Balance Between Distraction and Connection
Interruptions—whether from email, notifications, or colleagues—can have a negative impact on our focus and productivity. Interruptions are not just minor annoyances, they are “toxic” to concentration and the quality of work produced. There is much scientific studies that show that it can take up to 30 minutes to regain focus after being interrupted, and that […]
From Shadows To Sunrise: How Feeling Irrelevant Signals Imminent Change
Sometimes, the most meaningful insights occur when we admit our deepest uncertainties. This past week, I talked with a friend, Gord Sarkissian, about some of my feelings of irrelevance at this stage in life and career. It wasn’t easy to voice my self-doubts as I emerge into this next chapter of my life. Gord listened […]
I had the good fortune to present a virtual session to The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) on Psychological Safety In The Workplace.
A significant part of the discussion was about the vitally important topic of creating safe spaces for marginalized groups such as women, indigenous peoples and people of colour. We must recognize the blindness that comes with privilege. Let’s stay self-aware of ways we make it unsafe for people and keep the conversations going. Let’s be […]
Intentional Culture, Exceptional Results – Integrating Authenticity with Accountability
One habit of good leadership is to be out in your culture, shining a light on success, celebrating wins, and catching people doing things right. There are likely some amazing things going on around you that you may be missing if you aren’t intentional. It’s natural for human beings to fixate on what’s not in […]
If you see someone across the room that you’ve never met, could you build trust with them in ten minutes?
In ten minutes you couldn’t build enough trust to hire them, marry them, or invest your money with them, but you CAN move the trust needle. Here’s how: Reach out. Waiting and hope are not good trust building strategies. Introduce yourself. Put yourself out there. Extend trust. People either distrust you until proven otherwise or […]
