Release year: 2018

Author: Amy C. Edmondson

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Link to my handwritten notes

Review

Incredibly relevant. I want to work for an organization that values psychological safety. The author makes it clear that it is one of the best investments money can’t buy.

Félix rating:
👍👍

⭐ Star quotes

  • (p. 20) A survey on psychological safety to measure it at your organization (note: questions with (R) are reversed, meaning disagreement on those equals higher psychological safety) (note 2: score these on a 5 or 7 point Likert scale)
    1. If you make a mistake on this team, it is often held against you. (R)
    2. Members of this team are able to bring up problems and tough issues.
    3. People on this team reject others for being different. (R)
    4. It is safe to take a risk on this team.
    5. It is difficult to ask other members of this team for help. (R)
    6. No one on this team would deliberately act in a way that undermines my efforts.
    7. Working with members of this team, my unique skills and talents are valued and utilized.
  • (p. 22) Making the environment safe for open communication about challenges, concerns and opportunities is one of the most important leadership responsibilities in the 21st century.
  • (p. 25) Your greatest fear as a CEO is that people aren’t telling you the truth.
  • (p. 45) The failure of an employee to speak up in a crucial moment cannot be seen. Because not offering an idea is an invisible act, it’s hard to engage in real-time course correction. This means that psychologically safe workplaces have a powerful advantage in competitive industries.
  • (p. 138) Speaking up is easier said than done.
  • (p. 189) Substituting candor for silence and engagement for fear are essential responsibilities for leaders today.
  • (p. 194) Mistakes themselves are not a bad thing. The question is, do you learn from those mistakes?