What Is Psychological Safety (And Why Every Team Needs It)

The most successful teams share one core trait: psychological safety. But what exactly is it—and how does it impact collaboration, performance, and innovation?

Let’s explore what psychological safety is, what it isn’t, and how you can start building it in your organization.

A Simple Definition of Psychological Safety

Coined by Harvard professor Amy Edmondson, psychological safety means:

“A shared belief that the team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking.”

In practice, it means people feel safe to:

• Ask questions

• Admit mistakes

• Offer ideas

• Challenge groupthink

• Speak up without fear