In the work and business world ‘psychological safety’ has become the latest buzzword for creating a culture where new ideas are invited, trying something different is supported, and failure is seen as a vital part of learning and development.
Basically we all we all feel safe at work and are being listened to.
The hope is that if an organisation gets this right, you create a mindset that is resilient, productive, innovative, attracts and retains talent.
It’s NOT a place, it’s a state of mind that runs through an organisation. If it was a place, say, a psychological safe space, people argue that once you step out of it by definition you are unsafe.
All is well and good. But if you find yourself in an environment that’s a long way off this ideal (a.k.a toxic), never mind.
I’m asking you to make sure you look after yourself. Create your own psychological safety for your own well-being.
It’s supposed to be for leaders to create a space where everybody feels safe, respected, accepted, and valued.
But I’m saying don’t wait. Respect yourself - now.
This way you can:
- feel better - don’t rely on others for your happiness
- be more creative. You’ve given yourself permission.
- feel more comfortable sharing. The more you put out, the more you get back
- find it easier to problem solve. You don’t feel afraid to ask and get answers.
- enjoy your job more
- plan for the worst - have no fear of moving. Leaving the old place behind.
How?
Lead by example
Ask for feedback, acknowledge your mistakes, and welcome questions and different opinions.
Encourage respectful communication
Don’t interrupt when someone else is speaking. You’ve two ears and one mouth, use them in that ratio. Also when you speak you only repeat what you know, listen and you might learn something new - even if it’s only that the other person doesn’t know what they’re talking about.
Embrace failure
Don’t worry about failure. And that comes from not worrying about being judged. Just always ask yourself, “What am I learning here?” Be richer for the experience. This was you learning and growing.
And if all the above doesn’t work?
Don’t worry. We can work on letting go. Going elsewhere. Somewhere where there’s like-minded.
So how does Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy help you achieve the above?
Firstly, take a look around you. Recognise what you are up against.
Silence - no one will say anything or don’t answer your questions in a meeting. There’s no connection, or there’s a learned apprehension.
Micromanagement - that feeling of working in a straight jacket. Everything is granular.
No trust - there’s a fear of retribution.
No boundaries - for example, the feeling of always having to be available: even at weekends.
No initiative - no one wants to take the lead on anything.
Absenteeism - more and more people are off sick. And for longer.
Work-life out of balance - work eats into the evenings. Everyone expects everything right now. You spend the weekend recovering from the week and start to stress about next week’s work from Sunday morning onwards.
A revolving door - people come, people go. There’s always someone new being walked around and introduced to you by HR.
So the above may be the work setting, but it doesn’t have to be you. All these things can cause you stress, anxiety and feel pressure, but it doesn’t have to be this way.
I can help you change your mindset. Feel more resilient and less bothered by others.
Because it comes down to one simple thing
Ideally, when you are the positive one you’ll attract like-minded. You’ll not feel alone or up against it.
On the other hand if all around you people don’t listen, form cliques, talk behind your back, drop you in it, then it’s okay.
Why? Because you’ve done the right thing. You can look at yourself in the mirror and also sleep at night.
You’ve successfully created your own psychological safe state of mind. A DIY resilience exercise if you will.
Or as Oscar Wilde says, “Be yourself, everyone else is already taken”.
And that is a comfortable place to be.
And who is James Thomas, Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapist, to say this?
Before I became a Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapist I spent 35 years in the corporate world across four continents.
I came across some inspiringly brilliant people, mavericks, and fantastic creative brains. And I also saw that it only took a couple of well-poisoners, apathetic people, and snitches for things to fall apart.
That’s why I want to help you build your corporate resilience and be part of the former and recognise the latter when they’re in your presence.
And the best way to have a well-tuned radar is to be calm at all times.
As American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson put it, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
To give yourself a psychological safety net talk to me at jamesthomas@thegentlemind.co.uk or call 07787563099.
