Published: 05 August 2024
Psychological safety supports better outcomes at all stages of the innovation process. Executive leaders responsible for innovation should use this research to embed psychological safety as a core component of the innovation program.
Innovation thrives in an atmosphere of psychological safety, where new ideas can be generated, surfaced and refined.
Psychological safety is not an “all or nothing” concept, and it develops in four stages: inclusion, learner, contributor and challenger. Challenger safety is the most important for innovation as it allows projects to be refined and improved through courageous exchange.
A psychologically safe innovation team allows productive conflict and uses challenges as a tool to craft high-quality ideas, rather than as a mechanism for personal attack.
Foster challenger safety by establishing frameworks for productive conflict and positioning critiques as a positive step in
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