How to Build and Scale Team Safety
Summary
Key Insights
-
•
Feeling unsafe lowers a person’s operating IQ from around 100-120 to as low as 50-70, impairing cognitive function.
-
•
The brain processes information bottom-up: first checking physical safety (brainstem), then emotional safety (limbic), before allowing thinking (cortex).
-
•
Team safety is created collectively, while trust is built between individuals.
-
•
Physical, emotional, and psychological safety must be addressed in that order to enable effective thinking and collaboration.
-
•
Structured, regular meetings are the most effective lever to build and scale safety within teams.
-
•
A ‘boundary conversation’ where team members share what feels physically safe or unsafe can help build inclusivity.
-
•
Celebrating mistakes openly creates psychological safety that encourages learning and innovation.
-
•
Remote teams require intentional communication agreements to reduce ambiguity and build safety.
-
•
Safety deficits often exist between leadership and teams, requiring targeted conversations starting within smaller groups without leaders.
-
•
Anonymous surveys and dashboards can help track safety levels objectively and highlight unseen issues.
Notable Quotes
"Without safety, human beings literally can’t think."
"Our brain doesn’t know the difference between a tiger trying to eat us or an angry email from our manager."
"Trust is created between two people. Safety is created in a group of people."
"I feel internally relaxed when I’m in a group and we’re talking with each other and I don’t have to strategize about what I’m going to say."
"Meetings tell us what kind of conversations we are having and what kind of conversations we are not having."
"If our body doesn’t feel safe, or we can’t share emotions, we won’t be able to think or do work effectively."
"Mistake celebration meetings normalize errors and allow teams to get ahead of problems quickly."
"Starting small with relationship-building is key when safety is lacking, especially in large or hierarchical groups."
"Offering anonymity in safety surveys helps people be honest when they don’t feel safe to share openly."
"Deep listening means hearing not just what is said but what isn’t said, especially for people with different language or cultural backgrounds."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Are you creative? Such a loaded question, isn't it?"
Dr. Karl JeffriesThe Science of Creativity for DesignOps
January 8, 2024
"I never want to walk into a review with my stakeholders at the SVP level and see something for the first time."
Amy MarquezINVEST: Discussion
June 15, 2018
"Building an internal research practice is critical for long-term value and integration of insights."
Steve Portigal Chris Chapo Kelly Goto Christian RohrerDiscussion
May 13, 2015
"We covered critical design gaps without waiting for headcount allocation or hiring delays."
Alicia MootyDesign Staffing Models
September 30, 2021
"I am not throwing away your UX."
Ana Maria Montero Barrantes Aditi Dhar Michelle Kaplan Nate Osborne Matt LaurenceThe Authentic UX Talent Show
January 8, 2024
"You can’t really advocate for UX or move an organization forward without interacting with your team and business colleagues."
Lada Gorlenko Sharbani Dhar Sébastien Malo Rob Mitzel Ivana Ng Michal Anne RogondinoTheme 1: Discussion
January 8, 2024
"We think about research as the magnetic field that attracts every part of the business into alignment around the customer."
Sofia QuinteroThe Product Philosophy Behind EnjoyHQ
March 10, 2021
"Lawyers, though nervous, can become some of the most reasonable people you deal with if you explain risks clearly."
Laura KleinUnique challenges of innovation in enterprises
April 23, 2020
"My playlist changed drastically when my son was born, but data alone wouldn’t explain why."
Andrew MichaelBuilding a Product Insights Team
March 10, 2022
