In this episode of the Lead Well podcast, Trasetta Washington discusses the critical concept of psychological safety in leadership. She emphasizes that psychological safety is not merely a buzzword but a vital component of effective leadership that requires intentional behavior and emotional awareness. The conversation explores the misconceptions surrounding psychological safety, the emotional dynamics involved, signs of low psychological safety within teams, and practical steps leaders can take to foster a safe and accountable environment. Trasetta highlights that creating psychological safety is a performance strategy that leads to better collaboration, innovation, and retention within teams.

Takeaways:

• Psychological safety is a shared belief among team members.
• It requires intentional leadership behavior over time.
• Leaders must be emotionally aware to foster psychological safety.
• Silence in meetings often indicates a lack of psychological safety.
• Psychological safety allows for higher accountability and open communication.
• Invalidation of ideas can erode psychological safety over time.
• Leaders should listen without interrupting and respond without defensiveness.
• Building psychological safety starts with self-awareness and reflection.
• Small shifts in leadership behavior can lead to significant changes in team dynamics.
• Psychological safety is essential for better decision making and healthier leadership pipelines.

Psychological safety isn’t created by intention or policy—it’s created through leadership behavior.

Through keynotes, workshops, and facilitated leadership trainings, Trasetta Washington helps organizations move beyond buzzwords and build cultures of trust, accountability, and honest communication. Her work equips leaders with the self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and communication skills required to foster psychological safety while maintaining high standards and performance.

If your organization is ready to strengthen team trust, improve communication, and support leaders in navigating today’s complex workplace realities, learn more or submit a speaking or facilitation inquiry using the link below.

👉 Book Trasetta as a Speaker or Facilitator