How to rapidly build trust with your team

As I partner with schools and systems on evidence-informed improvement, I’m consistently reminded of the vital human dimension of this work. How we lead and engage our teams directly shapes our collective progress. Leading from the middle can be challenging, and having the skills to positively influence team dynamics is essential.

This week, we’re exploring the crucial skill of intentionally cultivating psychological safety within our teams.

30-Second Version

• Intentionally enhancing psychological safety can significantly boost team performance.
• Leaders must regularly assess psychological safety within their teams.
• By modelling vulnerability, destigmatising mistakes, normalising help-seeking, and rewarding alternative thinking, leaders foster deeper trust and openness.

The Full Read

Ask yourself about your team: “In this team, is it safe to…”:

1. Ask for help?
2. Admit a mistake?
3. Offer an alternative viewpoint?

When psychological safety is implemented effectively, it significantly enhances team learning, performance, and engagement. It serves as the backbone for teams tackling complex, challenging tasks that require continuous learning, iteration, and diverse perspectives.

So what exactly is psychological safety, and how do you actively build it? Professor Amy Edmondson defines psychological safety as: “A belief that one will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes, and that the team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking.”

In psychologically safe teams, members openly discuss difficult issues and challenges. They proactively seek help, candidly address mistakes and solutions, and welcome differing viewpoints. Team members confidently share their ideas and expertise without fear, appreciating and valuing each other’s contributions.

The language leaders use significantly impacts the psychological safety of their teams. Being intentional with your questions and prompts can encourage openness, vulnerability, and trust, making it safer for everyone to engage fully.

Here are some simple discussion prompts to foster psychological safety:

• “I’m feeling stuck with [specific issue]. Could someone help me think this through?”
• “I tried [specific approach], and it didn’t work as I’d hoped. Can I talk you through what happened?”
• “Does anyone see this differently or have another idea we could explore? I’d love to hear it.”