Prioritizing Psychological Safety: Building a Healthy Workplace
Ali's experience of working with a toxic colleague highlights the critical importance of psychological safety in the workplace. This aspect, often overlooked, has a direct impact on employees' mental health and overall well-being. When employees feel unsafe expressing their thoughts or concerns, it can lead to mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety, and prolonged stress, ultimately resulting in burnout.
Dr. Bisi Laniyan, a clinical psychologist, emphasizes the economic impact of employees' mental health on a company's profitability and productivity. A toxic workplace can compromise these priorities, leading to increased absenteeism due to mental health conditions and presenteeism, where employees are physically present but not fully engaged.
Psychological safety is the foundation of a healthy and productive work environment. At its core, it involves creating an atmosphere free from bullying and incivility. Ideally, it fosters an environment where individuals feel comfortable sharing opinions, asking questions, and providing feedback without fear of retribution. Constructive feedback is encouraged, focusing on improvement rather than criticism and blame. This inclusive culture values the unique contributions of team members, empowering them to take risks without the fear of punishment.
Trust between employees and leadership is crucial for building a psychologically safe workplace. Organizations are increasingly recognizing the positive outcomes associated with psychological safety, including higher employee engagement, increased innovation, better problem-solving, and improved overall team performance.
In Ali's case, the absence of psychological safety not only impacted the engagement and satisfaction of employees but also led to a decline in retention rates. Many talented individuals left the organization due to the toxic environment, questioning their future prospects within the company.
Ali emphasizes that psychological safety in the workplace is a fundamental right, not a privilege. As adults spend a significant portion of their lives working, maintaining a healthy and respectful working environment is crucial for preserving mental health. Creating and fostering psychological safety should be a priority for organizations, recognizing its far-reaching impact on both individual well-being and overall organizational success.
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By- Sahiba Suri
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