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The Hidden Key to High-Performing Teams: Psychological Safety in the Workplace with Karolin Helbig and Minette Norman (Ep. #73)

The BetterManager Team
Building Better Managers Podcast Episode 73 - Karolin Helbig & Minette Norman

Building Better Managers Podcast Episode #73: The Hidden Key to High-Performing Teams: Psychological Safety in the Workplace with Karolin Helbig & Minette Norman

While there is an abundance of research on the concept of psychological safety, there is limited practical information on how to create psychologically-safe, highly-engaged and healthier workplaces where one can speak up without the risk of punishment or humiliation.

Join us as we welcome Karolin Helbig and Minette Norman, authors of The Psychological Safety Playbook: Lead More Powerfully by Being More Human, to discuss proven and practical strategies to help leaders increase the psychological safety in their teams and to lead more powerfully by being more human.

This episode is a must-listen for any leader or manager looking to develop the higher-performing, highly inclusive, and more innovative teams.

In this episode:

Meet Karolin Helbig

  • Karolin Helbig is an expert in helping leaders optimize team performance and transform their organizations through the development of mindset, emotional intelligence, and psychological safety.
  • With over 15 years of experience as a top management consultant at McKinsey & Company, Karolin has a wealth of expertise in driving business success. Additionally, Karolin holds a PhD in human genetics from the Phillipps-Universität in Marburg, Germany. 

Meet Minette Norman

  • Minette Norman is a consultant and speaker specializing in inclusive leadership development, with a focus on fostering psychological safety to create inclusive work environments.
  • Prior to her work in inclusive leadership, Minette spent many years leading global technical teams in the software industry, giving her a deep understanding of the challenges facing organizations in today's fast-paced and constantly evolving business landscape. 

What is Psychological Safety?

  • Psychological safety in the workplace is a critical component of fostering a healthy and productive work environment. By creating a culture where employees can express their ideas and concerns freely, businesses can unlock the full potential of their teams and drive innovation.
  • In a psychologically safe workplace, employees experience reduced stress, increased confidence, and greater job satisfaction. This, in turn, leads to improved performance, commitment, and talent retention, as well as decreased absenteeism.
  • By prioritizing psychological safety, organizations can unleash the full potential of their employees and cultivate a workplace culture that values creativity, collaboration, and inclusivity. This is essential for businesses looking to thrive in today's rapidly evolving marketplace.

How Speaking Your Mind Can Drive Organizational Success

  • Communicating courageously is crucial in the workplace because it promotes creativity, innovation, and problem-solving. When employees feel comfortable proposing bold ideas and speaking their minds, it can lead to breakthroughs and new opportunities for the business.
  • Additionally, speaking up and sharing our thoughts in a respectful and thoughtful manner can lead to greater trust, collaboration, and a sense of ownership among team members. This can lead to increased job satisfaction, retention, and overall organizational success. By creating a culture of courageous communication, businesses can foster an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute their best work.

How Mastering Your Emotions Can Help You Lead with Confidence

  • Emotional regulation is a critical skill for leaders to master in order to navigate difficult situations and confidently lead their teams. This entails modifying our emotional reactions via cognitive, physiological, or behavioral strategies in order to respond to stressors in a positive and balanced manner.
  • We can avoid being overwhelmed by stress or negativity by learning to regulate our emotions, allowing us to stay focused and productive in high-pressure situations. This, in turn, can aid in the development of resilience and the creation of a more positive and supportive work environment.
  • While emotional regulation is difficult to master, it is a necessary component of effective leadership. Leaders can learn to modulate their emotional reactions and lead their teams with a sense of calm, balance, and unflappability with practice and perseverance.

How to Build a Culture of Innovation by Embracing Risk and Failure

  • Embracing risk and failure is critical for fostering a culture of innovation and growth in the workplace. As a leader, it's important to encourage your team to take risks and try new things, even if it means making mistakes along the way.
  • By embracing failure as a natural part of the learning process, leaders can help your employees develop a growth mindset and build resilience. This can lead to increased creativity, productivity, and engagement, as well as a more dynamic and innovative workplace culture.

Takeaways: The Power of Psychological Safety in the Workplace

  • Embracing psychological safety in the workspace can mean the difference between success and failure for your organization. By creating an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their ideas and concerns, you'll unlock a wealth of creativity and innovation that can drive your business forward.
  • Psychological safety is essential for building strong, collaborative teams that are capable of achieving great things together. When team members feel safe to share their opinions and collaborate on projects, they're more likely to build trust and respect for one another, leading to increased productivity and morale.
  • In today's rapidly changing business environment, organizations that don't prioritize psychological safety risk falling behind their competitors. By making psychological safety a top priority in your workplace, you'll not only attract and retain top talent, but you'll also position your organization for long-term success in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Downloads & Resources

Follow Karolin on LinkedIn, and Minette on LinkedIn & Twitter.

Learn more at Evolution.team. and ThePsychologicalSafetyPlaybook.com.

Subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform!

Check out our blog articles on Leadership here.

Karolin Helbig

Karolin Helbig is an expert in helping leaders optimize team performance and transform their organizations through the development of mindset, emotional intelligence, and psychological safety.

With over 15 years of experience as a top management consultant at McKinsey & Company, Karolin has a wealth of expertise in driving business success. Additionally, Karolin holds a PhD in human genetics from the Phillipps-Universität in Marburg, Germany. 

Minette Norman

Minette Norman is a consultant and speaker specializing in inclusive leadership development, with a focus on fostering psychological safety to create inclusive work environments.

Prior to her work in inclusive leadership, Minette spent many years leading global technical teams in the software industry, giving her a deep understanding of the challenges facing organizations in today's fast-paced and constantly evolving business landscape. 

Episode Transcript
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