Hello, It's 6:16 AM, a time when the world is either groggily stumbling out of bed or firmly entrenched in snooze button warfare. As I sit here with my coffee, contemplating the absurdity of early mornings and the precarious balance of mental health and psychological safety, I thought, why not blend these musings into a creative blog post?
Psychological Safety:
Looking at Amy Edmondson's Psychological Safety Model, which, if you squint at it just right, looks a bit like the morning routine of most adults.
The Four Zones of Psychological Safety
Comfort Zone:
This is like those mornings when you hit the snooze button for the tenth time. You're comfortable, sure, but you're not making any progress.
In teams, people are friendly but don't push themselves or each other to excel. It’s a warm, cozy blanket of stagnation.
Learning Zone:
This is the sweet spot, like when you finally get up and your coffee kicks in.
Teams here work together, challenge each other, and learn to do a great job. They tackle hard and creative tasks, much like you tackle your email inbox before the caffeine wears off.
Apathy Zone:
Ever had those mornings where you get up, but your brain is still in bed?
That’s this zone. People come to work, but their hearts and minds are elsewhere. Not much gets done, and the most productive part of their day might be scrolling through cat videos.
Anxiety Zone:
Ah, the panic of realising you’ve overslept and have a meeting in five minutes.
People here are scared to share ideas, take risks, or ask for help. It’s a high-stress environment that stifles productivity and growth.
It’s like trying to function without coffee—possible, but painful.
If you’re leading a team (or just trying to lead yourself out of bed), these tips will help create a safer, more productive environment:
Start with Trust
Just like trusting that your alarm will eventually wake you up, build trust by being vulnerable. Share a personal story or a mistake. It’s okay to be human.
No Blame Game
When your alarm fails, don’t blame the clock. Instead, ask, “How can I fix this?” Similarly, focus on solutions rather than blaming others in your team.
Active Listening
Give full attention to those early morning news segments, just like you should when someone on your team speaks. Recap what they say before you reply.
Normalise Failure
Everyone has those mornings where they spill coffee everywhere. Use failures as learning experiences. Share a “What I Learned” segment in team meetings (or at the breakfast table).
Diverse Voices:
Just as you might switch up your breakfast routine, actively solicit opinions from the less vocal. Rotate meeting facilitators to give everyone a chance to lead and speak.
Open Door Policy:
Make it known that anyone can approach you with ideas or concerns, much like keeping your door open for the cat who insists on morning cuddles.
Consistent Check-ins:
Regular 1:1s with team members make it easier to discuss sensitive issues. Think of it as your bi-weekly coffee catch-up.
Address Issues Promptly:
Ignoring issues kills psychological safety. Tackle them head-on, much like addressing that mysterious morning smell coming from the fridge.
Mornings and teams both benefit from a touch of psychological safety and a dash of humour. Whether you’re navigating the pre-coffee haze or leading a group to success, remember that it’s all about creating an environment where people feel safe to be themselves and take risks. Now, if you'll excuse me, my coffee is getting cold, and I have some early-morning cat videos to catch up on.
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