We’ve all been in situations where we’ve felt uncomfortable speaking up, asking for help, or even sharing our opinions. Unfortunately, this is all too common in today’s work culture, where people may not feel confident in their ability to express themselves without fear of retribution.
The term “psychological safety” has been introduced in recent years to describe a work environment that cultivates trust, respect and open communication. But what happens when psychological safety is lacking in the workplace?
We’ll explore what can happen when workplaces don’t prioritize psychological safety.
Decreased trust and collaboration
Research shows that building trust among people in organizations takes a considerable amount of time. Practically everything we do at work is a collaboration. Many people spent 85% or more of their time each week in collaborative work.
A lack of psychological safety can lead to employees feeling hesitant to collaborate with their coworkers. When these feelings of mistrust increase, team members may stop seeking out collaboration or sharing their ideas altogether. This can lead to silos and a lack of innovation within the organization.
Higher levels of stress and burnout
According to the World Health Organization, burnout happens when you’re really stressed at work and can’t handle it well. It has three main signs: feeling extremely tired, not liking your job, and not doing well at work.
When employees don’t feel psychologically safe, they may feel like they’re walking on eggshells around their colleagues. This can lead to an increase in stress and anxiety levels, which can ultimately lead to burnout. When people don’t feel like they can speak up to get the help they need or share their concerns with their colleagues, their mental health can suffer, which can ultimately affect their performance and productivity.
Decreased productivity and innovation
Businesses that don’t focus on coming up with new ideas are at risk of falling behind in their industry. They might miss out on chances to grow and be successful. When a company doesn’t innovate, it leads to less work getting done, fewer customers being interested, and eventually, making less money.
In order to drive innovation and creativity, employees need to feel safe enough to share their thoughts and ideas. Organizations that don’t prioritize psychological safety may miss out on critical feedback and suggestions for improving their products or services. When people don’t feel comfortable sharing their opinions or asking for help, it slows down progress and can lead to missed opportunities.
Higher rates of turnover
Having a lot of employees leave your company is very expensive. We know that how much your employees care about their job has a big effect on this. According to Gallup, only 36% of workers in the United States are really into their work. If businesses want to keep their employees from leaving, they need to focus on keeping them interested and motivated.
Employees who are not interested in their work cost the U.S. a lot of money, around $450 billion to $550 billion every year. This is because they don’t work as well as the ones who are engaged, and they’re not really putting in their best effort.
When people don’t feel like they can be themselves at work, they may start to look for opportunities elsewhere. Without a culture of psychological safety, employees may feel undervalued, unheard, and ultimately, unappreciated. This can lead to higher turnover rates, which can be costly for organizations in terms of time, resources, and talent retention.
Decreased customer satisfaction
Finally, organizations that lack psychological safety may ultimately suffer in terms of customer satisfaction. Employees who don’t feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas may not be able to provide the level of service or support that customers expect. This can lead to negative reviews, lower customer retention rates, and ultimately, a loss of business.
Happy employees contribute to happy customers. When employees are content, they’re more likely to help customers with a friendly attitude and top-notch service. This leads to a better customer experience, boosts customer loyalty, and ultimately increases profits.
It’s clear that psychological safety is a critical component of a healthy work environment. When people feel safe enough to be themselves, share their ideas, and collaborate freely, organizations can thrive. On the other hand, when psychological safety is lacking, it can lead to a range of negative outcomes, including decreased trust and collaboration, higher levels of stress and burnout, decreased productivity and innovation, higher rates of turnover, and decreased customer satisfaction. It’s up to leaders and organizations to prioritize psychological safety and create a culture where everyone feels valued, heard, and supported.
Written by: Jennifer Areola
