THE NEW PSYCHOLIGICAL SAFETY: TOOLS Vs CULTURE

The concept of psychological safety, traditionally defined as:

“The belief that one can speak up without fear of punishment or humiliation”, – as a cornerstone of inclusive workplace cultures.

However, this definition can be problematic because it sets an unrealistic expectation that the workplace is a perfect environment where mistakes and unfair behavior never occur. In reality, no one can guarantee that speaking up will always be met with fairness.

I believe that the truth is more like, people can and will make mistakes, and their responses may occasionally be unfair. Therefore, instead of focusing on creating an unrealistic environment where punishment or humiliation never happens, we should prioritize equipping individuals with the tools to address these micro-conflicts or spats when they arise. This approach is not only more practical but also more realistic and empowering.

I believe that a more robust definition of psychological safety would be:

“Psychological safety is the knowledge that one is equipped to address unfair responses when one speaks up”, – this being closer to the foundation of a fair and equitable workplace.

This more realistic reframing emphasizes resilience and the importance of having systems, tools, and processes in place that allow individuals to address and resolve micro-conflicts effectively as they arise.

Such an approach, I believe, creates a genuinely collaborative environment where team members are empowered to speak up, not because they believe there will be no negative consequences, but because they know they have the means to handle any unfair challenges that arise. This shift from an idealistic to a realistic perspective on psychological safety ensures that workplaces are not only inclusive but also resilient, adaptable, responsive, and truly supportive for all employees to speak up.

The toolkit we recommend for creating this environment is SpatzAI, an innovative platform designed to resolve micro-conflicts in real time. SpatzAI empowers teams by providing structured intervention chat app and platform that steps team members through the agreed procedure for resolving unfair behavior in teams—Caution, Object, and Stop—addressing any minor spats as they arise, promoting a fair and transparent resolution process. By leveraging data-driven insights and the team-assist review, SpatzAI helps create a truly psychologically safe workplace where every voice can be heard and respected.