"Leaders need to understand how much power they have from a cultural perspective"
The idea of a ‘psychologically safe’ workplace is being actively discussed in organisations in Australia. But what role to leaders play in creating this, and how can they ensure their workplaces are free from psychological harm?
According to DLPA managing director Karlie Cremin, the area of psychological safety has gotten increasingly complex over the last few years. Hybrid working has meant that the early warning signs are less visible, leading to larger and more complex problems potentially arising at a later stage, and “market pressures” such as cost of living, accelerated change, lower headcount and ambitious growth targets could also result in a difficult environment.
To counter this, Cremin says it’s vital for employers to proactively manage psychosocial risks. As the movers and shakers of their organisations, leaders play a particularly important role in doing this.
“The key message is that it stems from the top,” Cremin tells HRD. “You really need to have genuine commitment from leadership teams and Boards to drive the implementation of structures that consistently deliver safe workplaces.”
“Leaders need to understand how much power they have from a cultural perspective, and how some older tools in this space no longer serve,” she explains. “There is a need to upgrade and adapt to different worker expectations, and a different way of working.”
When thinking about factors like workload, headcount and potential for burnout, job design becomes a key tool in ensuring that you know what you’re asking of your team members. It can also highlight whether you’re communicating these expectations clearly enough, and whether your whole network of processes is as effective as it should be.
Cremin will discuss work design, managing psychosocial risks, and a leader’s role in psychological safety in her upcoming webinar – Psychological Safety and Leadership: A Leader’s Role in Creating Safe Workplaces. She will share insights from her 25+ years of experience of working with small and large businesses, helping them to foster productivity and achieve their full potential.
“Many of the leaders we talk to actually don’t know how they can contribute to a culture of psychological safety,” she says.
“HR can really support these leaders to develop the skills and awareness around how to create safe workplaces, and the benefits of doing that.”
Psychological Safety and Leadership: A Leader’s Role in Creating Safe Workplaces will run on 19th July 2023 at 11am AEST. To find out more and to register, click here.
