Why Are People Still Quiet When You've Made It Safe to Speak?

Creating a safe space for people to share ideas is a great start, but it's not the whole story. Many leaders focus on making their teams feel secure, but they often forget to encourage bravery. It's like building a playground but not teaching kids how to play on the equipment. Psychological safety is about making sure people won't be punished or embarrassed for speaking up. It's not about being overly nice or avoiding all discomfort. When people feel safe, they can contribute ideas, learn, and innovate more effectively. However, if safety is the only focus, it can lead to groupthink and a lack of challenge. The goal should be candor, not just comfort. Even in safe environments, fear can still hold people back. Humans naturally avoid discomfort and fear judgment. Just telling people it's safe to speak up doesn't erase years of fear. Bravery is needed to overcome this fear. Bravery means doing something difficult even when it's scary, like speaking up when your voice is shaky. To foster a culture of open communication, leaders need to do more than just create a safe space. They should actively invite dissent, listen without defensiveness, and reward those who challenge the status quo. Leaders should also model bravery by owning their mistakes, asking tough questions, and taking risks. Employees also have a role to play. They should embrace discomfort, learn to challenge constructively, and choose to speak up even when it feels frightening. Psychological safety is meaningless if no one takes advantage of it. In short, both leaders and employees need to work together. Leaders must create a safe environment and model bravery, while employees must choose to be brave and speak up. Only then can a culture of open communication and innovation thrive.