It’s no secret that psychological safety makes or breaks teams. As more and more organizations get familiarized with the research and concepts of Gustavo Razzetti, the idea of safety is taking on a new meaning. In his work, he states, “
“Leaders have realized that psychological safety is the secret sauce to high-performing teams”.
If that is true, medical aesthetics need to get on board. We are in a profession that is growing, evolving and changing so quickly and swiftly that it is difficult to ascertain how burnout is not inevitable.
The big question still lies in how actually to increase psychological safety to prevent that from happening. Unfortunately, that’s where most organizations and teams struggle. Waiting until people leave, give up, or succumb to alienation and feeling unsafe, we need to build teams that will flourish and thrive proactively.
We have to approach psychological safety as a spectrum from low to high rather than something present or not. It is fluid, just like our overall health is. We are constantly working on it.
Teams with a sense of psychological safety are not afraid to ask questions, suggest a new idea or own up to a problem.
Building a Safe Team requires work and consistency but is worth the effort. To construct a Psychologically Safe Team, you focus on:
Dependability:
When a team knows they can rely on each other, accomplishing the required tasks is easy because it is grounded in support and teamwork.
Structure and clarity:
Define clear roles for each individual and include them in clear processes. Knowing the WHY is key to helping all members buy into what happens. All members understand their short-term goals and contribute to overall objectives.
Meaning:
Continually set up reminders and evidence of the reason we do things as we do. There is great personal fulfillment in the world of aesthetics. Personal satisfaction is derived from the person’s role or the team’s overall accomplishments, and every member should believe there is meaning in their work.
Impact:
Members of the team feel their work is meaningful and makes a difference. Whether it is to enhance outer beauty, boost confidence or solve a problem, our work makes a difference to our clients. Continually cheer on the impact that technology, expertise and experience can offer to others.
Creating a team that feels psychologically safe is so worth the effort.
Psychological Safety provides the space to address conflict productively. It enables people to speak up, be candid, and think of the team’s best.
Psychological Safety isn’t about saying everything you want or being disrespectful either. It’s not about being authentic but candid.
I am excited to work with great teams looking to build, nourish and boost trust and psychologically safe work environments. But the glue and sparkle come from creating a safe environment where even the quietest person feels free to participate, have a voice and contribute. It’s the lasting magic.
Razzetti suggests three simple ways to boost and build psychological safety in your team, and I believe they parallel effectively into the world of aesthetics.
Start with the Leader
If you are a medical director or entrepreneur of your practice, you set the stage to frame the work, improve dedication, share the meaning and remind your team of the impact. Your example and mentorship that demonstrates your loyalty and trust with each team member is the foundation of your team’s safety barometer. Take care of yourself, and make intentional efforts to build trust within your team members, individually and collectively.
Invite participation.
Everyone has a voice on a psychologically safe team. The ability to draw out from your team members’ input and ideas requires intellectual and emotional humility. Leaders must practice inquiry to encourage people to challenge beliefs and established practices. Figuring ways to draw equal participation from all team members transparently is not easy because some are simply more vocal and confident than others. Establish processes that allow every team member to have a voice.
Respond productively.
There is no point in giving team members a voice unless you are open to listening, thoughtfully responding, and considering other people’s ideas and opinions. A team will only feel psychologically safe when they genuinely believe that their input is valued. Team members also need to know they won’t be criticized or stigmatized if they make and admit a mistake or seek understanding or your leadership opinion on a matter.
The benefits of building a team framework that cares about Psychological Safety will build well-being individually and collectively and inevitably boost your business. If you are curious how to get started, follow this blog series or reach out – I just love chatting about this!
