In The Fearless Organization, Amy C. Edmondson argues that for organizations to thrive in the complex knowledge economy, leaders must cultivate psychologically safe cultures where workers can ask questions, raise concerns, and make mistakes without fear of reprisal. But many companies rely on a fear-driven management approach that silences workers’ voices. They do so at their peril, stifling innovation and putting themselves in harm’s way.

Edmondson, a professor of leadership and management, stumbled upon the concept of psychological safety while studying the relationship between teamwork and error rates in hospitals. She realized that groups that openly discussed failure without fear of repercussions warded off problems before they happened and took risks that fostered innovation.

In this guide, we examine what psychological safety is, why it’s important, the detrimental effects of fear-driven work cultures, and ways leaders can cultivate psychologically safe environments to drive success. We also compare and contrast Edmondson’s work with the perspectives and work of experts in leadership and other fields.