Psychological Safety at Work: Making It Safer to Speak Up

Problem to solve

Organisations ask people to speak up, yet hierarchy, past responses to challenge and fear of consequences can make speaking honestly feel risky.

FAIRER perspective

Psychological safety is not simply being nice or avoiding difficult conversations. It means examining who feels able to challenge decisions, admit mistakes and be heard, and how those with power respond.

Session summary

Explore the everyday behaviours and systems that encourage or silence contribution. Participants use a team speak-up check to identify whose voices are missing and practise responses to mistakes, challenge and concerns, finishing with practical norms that combine trust with accountability.

Preview our insights

In this short video, FAIRER Managing Director Dan Robertson explores how othering and judgement shape our interactions, influence who feels safe to speak up and affect our sense of belonging at work.

It’s a preview of the thinking explored in our one-hour training session – from understanding the impact of our assumptions to creating the conditions for people to feel heard, respected and able to contribute.

What you'll learn

Explain psychological safety and its relationship to team performance.

Identify behaviours that increase or reduce psychological safety.

Respond constructively to mistakes, concerns and challenge.

Create practical team norms that build trust and openness.

How it works

Interested in booking this training for your organisation? Get in touch with our team to arrange an initial conversation.

We'll use the call to learn more about your organisation, your current employee network approach and what you want to achieve from the session. We can then confirm the booking and discuss any relevant context to help us deliver a useful and engaging session for your participants.

Your session will be delivered by a member of the FAIRER Consulting team selected according to availability and relevant expertise. Sessions are delivered as a one-off training experience rather than an ongoing programme.

Meet our inclusion specialists

Your one-hour training session will be delivered by one of our inclusion and culture specialists. Click each profile to learn more about our speakers.