As well as the great article below, ACXPA Members also have access to a range of additional resources, including our monthly Member Symposiums & Video Library, exclusive industry insights, premium resources to download, discounted training courses, expert articles, and lots more!
Psychological safety in the Workplace
Psychological safety in the workplace is the glue that holds the most successful teams together, and it’s only as strong as the safety experienced by the people who need it most.
And it’s the responsibility of the people who feel the safest, who have positional or social power, to work hardest to lift it.
The sting in the tail is that the people that feel the least safe, are the least likely to speak up about it.
So, where do you start?
8 Tips to enable Psychological Safety in the Workplace
1. Encourage open communication and active listening
Foster an environment where team members feel comfortable speaking up and expressing their thoughts and feelings.
Encourage everyone to listen actively and show that you value their contributions.
2. Promote a culture of trust
Trust is an essential component of psychological safety.
Take steps to build trust within your team, such as being transparent and following through on commitments.
3. Support diversity and inclusion
Creating a diverse and inclusive team can help to build psychological safety.
Encourage team members to bring their unique perspectives and experiences to the table and create an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.
4. Establish clear expectations and guidelines
Having clear expectations and guidelines can help team members feel more secure and know what is expected of them.
5. Encourage risk-taking and learning from mistakes
It is important to create an environment where team members feel comfortable taking risks and trying new things, even if it means making mistakes.
Encourage a culture of learning from mistakes and use them as opportunities for growth.
6. Provide resources for mental health and well-being
Make sure team members have access to resources such as mental health support, stress management techniques, and work-life balance support.
7. Encourage regular check-ins and feedback
Regular check-ins and feedback can help team members feel connected and supported.
Encourage team members to give and receive feedback in a constructive and respectful manner.
8. Praise and reward people when they take risks
Praising and rewarding people when they take risks will set the scene for further risk-taking in the future.
Risk-taking can be speaking up, sharing an idea, or questioning someone in a position of power.
Conclusion
It’s only when leaders and those with power start to let go of that power and actively engage with every member of the team to understand the unique forces that reduce their safety that they will be able to build cohesive high-performing teams.
CX Roundtables - Upcoming Guest
Live and interactive sessions for customer experience professionals in Australia.
Contact Centre Manager Roundtables - Upcoming Guest
Live and interactive sessions for contact centre professionals in Australia.
Next Members Symposium Livestream: Tuesday, 21st May, 2024, 13:30 AEST
The Members Symposium sessions are only available to ACXPA Members!
ACXPA Members can watch the symposium live, and, can watch any of the sessions at any time in their Video Library.
Preview of upcoming Symposium Sessions:
IVR Best Practice
Over 90% of contact centres are using an IVR (Press 1 for this, press 2 for that), and we've encountered many contact centres with over four layers of options for customers to select from. In this session, Nadine will be sharing some best practice tips on IVR design for 2024.
Presented by Nadine Power, Chief Product Officer, Datagamz (and ACXPA National Advisory Board Member)
Tips to Boost Engagement on Calls
Of the five quality competencies we assess as part of the Australian Call Centre Rankings, the 'ENGAGE' competency from the Australian Contact Centre Quality Standards has consistently been at the bottom of the rankings throughout 2023 and into 2024.
In this session, Simon will provide some tips that can be shared with agents on how to increase engagement with customers at the start of calls.
Presented by Simon Blair, General Manager Quality Insights, ACXPA
More sessions announced soon!
(If you're interested in speaking at one of our events, click here to learn more >)