Most of us have little to fear regarding our physical safety at work. We are not afraid when we walk into a building that the building might fall on us or that we will get robbed in the elevator. Physical safety, often an unspoken expectation, is critical for people to show up at work.
When you ask leaders what their company does to make sure their employees are safe, the list of security interventions is long, as it should be. But ask the same people what they do for the emotional safety of their employees, and you will likely get a blank stare.
Though we may conceptualize emotional safety and physical safety as quite different, a lack of emotional safety is physiologically perceived exactly in the same manner as a lack of physical safety. It is seen as a threat to our well-being and livelihood and our nervous system reacts appropriately.
How clear is your thinking and how rational are your decisions when you work in perpetual fear of being randomly injured or attacked? Clearly, emotional safety is essential in an environment that encourages participation in decision-making, innovation, and collaboration–emotional safety is a key component of creating a truly empowered culture.
Is Your Company Prepared?
- Do you have emotional safety guidelines and interventions?
- How can you create a climate of emotional safety on your team?
- What is your back-up plan if a colleague creates an emotionally unsafe environment during a meeting?
- What can you personally do to help others feel safe to challenge your ideas?
Threats to Emotional Safety
- Hierarchy
- Internal Competition
- Personal History/Experiences
- Personality Differences
- Value Differences
- Fear of Failure
- Diversity
- Conflict
- Emotional Labor
- Performance Anxiety
- Professional Status
- Financial Instability
- Downsizing
Quotes to Contemplate
“To make a good decision, you have to have the courage to say “no” in front of a whole room of people saying “yes;” you must have the courage to voice a point of view that is the opposite and the courage to ask, “Have you thought of this?”
~Jane Luciano, VP of Global Learning and Organization Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb
“People are naturally emotional and need an outlet. When companies allow employees to express their emotions, relationships between people in an organization are better.”
~Leticia Knowles, American Express
“Employees can’t be authentic if they don’t feel like it’ll be respected.”
~Kelli Price, SVP of People, Premier Inc
If you enjoyed this article, you may also like:
- EPowerment Principle #2 – Emotional Safety
- Emotional Safety — Revisited
- Corporate Courage
- Corporate Courage & EQ
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