Trishia*, one of my executive coaching clients, was driving the regulatory strategy for a global biotech company. At a recent cross-functional Zoom meeting, Gordon*, the VP of product development, publicly questioned Trishia’s approach. Trishia believed that Gordon didn’t understand the reasoning behind her proposal and was using the opportunity to flex his political muscle.
How to Tell If a Prospective Employer Values Psychological Safety
Look out for these red flags.
September 01, 2022
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Summary.
How can you assess whether a prospective employer offers psychological safety? In this article, the author outlines concrete strategies to help you screen for red flags: 1) Look and listen for inclusive vs. exclusive language. 2) Stay attuned to clarity in answers to your questions 3) Determine if the employer will meet your requirements 4) Ask open-ended questions about the culture during your interview. One example of a good question to ask: “Can you tell me about a time a person or team messed up? What happened?” This question gets to the heart of psychological safety. Organizations that allow mistakes and don’t penalize employees for failure provide the psychological security workers need to take risks.