The Secret Ingredient
May 2024
If you were asked what you needed to feel comfortable around a group of people, what would you say? It may vary depending on what kind of group you were considering: friends, neighbors, work, school, volunteers, church, or nonprofit groups. Chances are we are usually most honest with those we trust and know.
It may surprise you to learn that there is a single common thread present in any group that functions in a healthy and productive manner. In AA groups , the opening comment from anyone speaking is, “My name is X and I am addicted to alcohol”. In closed groups dedicated to other forms of addiction, people may introduce themselves as being addicted to drugs, overeating, anger, work, sex, etc. During the subsequent sharing, people may frankly share their current state of mind, for example, “I am unemployed, depressed, anxious, just paroled from prison….” I have known numerous people helped by these groups and others. The common denominator is they feel safe to share honestly and to be themselves.
Researchers in the world of work have also discovered the importance of people feeling safe when they work together. In fact, our success at work depends on this. Google UK conducted research in 2018 to determine the essential qualities for making a successful team. They found five central reasons for success. Four of the reasons were predictable components, including dependability, structure and clarity, meaning, and impact. But there was one central reason they had not expected.
The fifth quality was psychological safety. As defined by Dr. Amy Edmondson, it was defined as "a sense of confidence that the team will not embarrass, reject, or punish someone for speaking up." Google’s research with over 250 different inputs and 200 teams confirmed this. They also discovered that this component is the most important quality and is critical for the team to work.
Natash Tamiru leads organizational transformation programs at Google UK. She says, “Psychological safety is about risk-taking and being comfortable with vulnerability. People who don’t feel psychologically safe worry that taking risks will mean they’re seen as ignorant, incompetent, negative, or disruptive. Psychological safety means feeling confident about admitting mistakes, asking questions, or offering new ideas.” Leaders and team members can model this by openly admitting their uncertainties, showing that it’s okay to be imperfect, expressing genuine interest in others’ perspectives and concerns, and validating feelings and contributions.
Psychological safety, in some form, consciously or subconsciously, is something we seek. Being less on guard and more ourselves, allows us to contribute fully to the conversation, project, or friendship.
Church communities looking for a point of reference on how we should treat one another and give each other psychological safety could start with this verse from scripture as a guide:
Accept one another as God has accepted you. (cf. Romans 15:7)
God knows us completely, loves us, listens, and cares for us. He is our model for how to treat others. Perhaps the playbook for cultivating a winning team at a company like Google isn't so different from building a spiritual community and developing safe interpersonal relationships, after all.
Blessings,
Tom