Live Your Legacy: Principle 8 – Psychological Safety Starts with You

“As a leader, the greatest gift you can give your team is your nervous system.”

— Jim Dethmer

In rooted leadership, one of the most important principles is creating psychological safety—not only for your team or those you lead but also for yourself. True safety begins from within, and only when you create a sense of internal security can you lead with clarity, confidence, and compassion. In this post, we will explore why psychological safety is critical for effective leadership and how it starts with you—the leader.

What is Psychological Safety?

Psychological safety is the belief that one will not be penalized or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes. In a workplace or leadership context, it refers to creating an environment where individuals feel safe to express themselves without fear of judgment, criticism, or retaliation. But before we can create that safety for others, we must first cultivate it within ourselves.

As leaders, we set the tone for the environment around us. When we are grounded and at ease with ourselves, we create a ripple effect that allows others to feel secure, empowered, and confident. This is the first step in creating an atmosphere of psychological safety: ensuring that we have established this sense of inner safety for ourselves.

Why Psychological Safety Matters

Psychological safety is essential because it encourages innovation, collaboration, and authentic communication. When people feel psychologically safe, they are more likely to take risks, make mistakes, and learn from those mistakes. This fosters an environment where creativity thrives, and personal and collective growth is possible.

For leaders, psychological safety is particularly critical. When you, as a leader, model emotional resilience, openness, and a non-judgmental approach to challenges, you create the conditions for others to do the same. Without psychological safety, teams cannot function at their highest potential. They become fearful of failure, hesitant to share new ideas, and resistant to feedback—all of which are roadblocks to progress and growth.

How Psychological Safety Starts with You

Creating psychological safety starts within yourself and involves cultivating certain practices that foster both your personal well-being and your ability to create safety for others.

1. Self-Awareness: Know Your Triggers Understanding your own emotions and reactions is crucial for creating an environment of safety. As a leader, it’s easy to get triggered by stress or discomfort, especially in challenging situations. However, when you are reactive, it can unintentionally create an environment of fear and insecurity for others.

   Practice mindfulness and self-awareness to recognize when you’re feeling defensive or upset. The moment you identify these feelings, you can take a step back and regulate your emotions, avoiding unnecessary reactions. This ensures that your leadership remains calm, grounded, and approachable—qualities that encourage psychological safety in your team.

2. Self-Compassion: Treat Yourself with Kindness Leaders are often hard on themselves, striving for perfection and fearing mistakes. But self-compassion is the key to leading with authenticity. When you’re kind to yourself, acknowledging that you, too, are human and imperfect, you model this behavior for those around you.

   A leader who can admit mistakes and be open about their vulnerabilities fosters an environment where others feel safe to do the same. When your team sees that it’s okay to be imperfect, they are more likely to take risks and contribute ideas without fear of judgment.

3. Regulating Your Nervous System Your nervous system plays a pivotal role in how you respond to stress and challenges. Leaders who have learned to regulate their nervous system can handle difficult situations with calmness and clarity. They are less likely to react impulsively and more likely to approach challenges with a balanced mindset.

   Practices such as deep breathing, meditation, or physical movement can help regulate your nervous system, reducing feelings of anxiety and promoting a sense of inner calm. This not only supports your well-being but also creates a sense of emotional safety for your team.

4. Modeling Open Communication Open communication is essential for psychological safety, and it starts with you. By modeling vulnerability and openness, you invite others to do the same. When you speak honestly about your experiences, challenges, and thoughts, you create an environment where others feel safe to share their own.

   Practice active listening, and be genuinely curious about the perspectives and experiences of others. This will build trust and foster a culture of transparency, making it easier for your team to be forthcoming with their own ideas, concerns, and feedback.

5. Creating Boundaries for Emotional Safety While psychological safety is about creating an open, supportive environment, it’s also about setting healthy boundaries. A grounded leader knows their limits and is not afraid to set boundaries for their emotional well-being. This might mean taking time for self-care, saying no when necessary, or maintaining a balance between work and personal life.

   When you model healthy boundaries, you encourage your team to do the same. Boundaries ensure that everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to maintain their own emotional safety.

   
   

The Benefits of Psychological Safety for Leadership

1. Increased Trust Leaders who create psychological safety build trust with their teams. Trust is the foundation of any effective team, and when people feel safe, they trust their leader and each other. This trust enhances collaboration and creates an environment where individuals feel empowered to contribute their best work.

2. Better Decision Making A psychologically safe environment allows for diverse perspectives and ideas to flourish. Leaders who promote open communication ensure that all voices are heard, leading to better decision-making and more innovative solutions.

3. Stronger Relationships Psychological safety strengthens relationships by promoting empathy, understanding, and mutual respect. When you, as a leader, create a space for emotional connection and vulnerability, you cultivate a sense of belonging and loyalty within your team.

4. Resilience in Times of Stress When psychological safety is present, teams are more resilient in times of stress or crisis. People are more likely to lean on one another for support and collaborate to find solutions, rather than retreating in fear or defensiveness.

Psychological safety starts with you. When you create an environment of safety for yourself—through self-awareness, self-compassion, emotional regulation, open communication, and healthy boundaries—you set the stage for others to feel secure, supported, and empowered. Rooted leadership is about creating spaces where people can grow, share, and thrive. And it all begins from within.