Coaching for Leaders

404: How to Build Psychological Safety, with Amy Edmondson

Listen Later
Amy Edmondson: The Fearless Organization

Amy Edmondson is the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School. She has been recognized by the Thinkers50 global ranking of management thinkers for many years and was honored with their Talent Award in 2017. Amy is the author of several, highly regarded books on teaming and psychological safety, including her newest book, The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation and Growth*.

Key Points
  • Psychological safety varies a lot even inside of an organization.
  • More effective teams may appear to make more mistakes, but it’s likely those teams are just more comfortable reporting mistakes.
  • Instead of calling it an error, call it an accident. And rather than calling it an investigation, call it a study.
  • It’s fine to say, “I don’t know” when appropriate because it signals to others that it is okay to admit when they don’t know something.
  • If somebody shares a problem, say thank you and then ask how you can help.
  • Leaders should be concerned if they’re not hearing bad news.
    • Resources Mentioned
    • The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation and Growth* by Amy Edmondson
    • Amy Edmondson faculty page
      • Book Notes

      Download my highlights from The Fearless Organization in PDF format (free membership required).

      Related Episodes
      • Find Courage to Speak When It Matters Most, with Allan McDonald (episode 229)
      • Turn Followers Into Leaders, with David Marquet (episode 241)
      • The Path of Humble Leadership, with Edgar Schein (episode 363)
        • Discover More

        Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

        ...more
        View all episodesView all episodes
        Download on the App Store
        Coaching for LeadersBy Dave Stachowiak
        • 4.8
        • 4.8
        • 4.8
        • 4.8
        • 4.8

        4.8

        1,393 ratings

        More shows like Coaching for Leaders

        View all
        The Look & Sound of Leadership by Essential Communications - Tom Henschel

        The Look & Sound of Leadership

        1,167 Listeners

        The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk by Ryan Hawk

        The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk

        1,337 Listeners

        Teaching in Higher Ed by Bonni Stachowiak

        Teaching in Higher Ed

        371 Listeners

        HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

        HBR IdeaCast

        163 Listeners

        Negotiate Anything by Kwame Christian Esq., M.A.

        Negotiate Anything

        720 Listeners

        How to Be Awesome at Your Job by How to be Awesome at Your Job

        How to Be Awesome at Your Job

        1,036 Listeners

        Worklife with Adam Grant by TED

        Worklife with Adam Grant

        9,119 Listeners

        Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style by Laura Camacho

        Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style

        94 Listeners

        Maxwell Leadership Executive Podcast by John Maxwell

        Maxwell Leadership Executive Podcast

        384 Listeners

        Inside the Strategy Room by McKinsey & Company

        Inside the Strategy Room

        176 Listeners

        No Bullsh!t Leadership by Martin G Moore

        No Bullsh!t Leadership

        127 Listeners

        The Anxious Achiever by Morra Aarons-Mele

        The Anxious Achiever

        574 Listeners

        Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques by Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart

        Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

        827 Listeners

        A Bit of Optimism by Simon Sinek

        A Bit of Optimism

        2,236 Listeners

        Coaching Real Leaders by Harvard Business Review / Muriel Wilkins

        Coaching Real Leaders

        670 Listeners

        HBR On Leadership by Harvard Business Review

        HBR On Leadership

        171 Listeners