Anton Guinea
Entrepreneur, Speaker, bestselling author, and founder of The Guinea Group of Companies. For over 15 years, Anton has helped leaders move their teams to become psychologically safe, physically safe and overall better versions of themselves.
Creating a psychologically safe workplace is one of the most impactful things a leader can do for their team. It fosters trust, boosts creativity, and empowers employees to do their best work.
Let me share a story about a leader who did just that. Sometimes, stories are a better way of sharing a message.
Meet Jane, a Sales Manager.
When Jane took over as manager of her company’s sales team, she immediately sensed the tension in the room. Meetings were quiet, ideas were scarce, and team members rarely volunteered their thoughts. The team was talented but hesitant, clearly afraid to speak up.
Jane knew the key to unlocking their potential wasn’t about pushing harder—it was about creating psychological safety. She started with a simple step: modelling vulnerability.
In a team meeting, Jane shared a story about a campaign she had worked on years ago that failed spectacularly. She explained the lessons it taught her and how it shaped her approach to problem-solving. Her openness broke the ice.
Team members began nodding; a few even chimed in with their own stories.
Next, Jane introduced a “Feedback Friday” ritual.
Every week, the team would share one thing that went well and one thing that could improve. Jane made it clear that criticism was aimed at processes, not people, and actively implemented changes based on their input.
Finally, Jane celebrated mistakes as learning opportunities. When a team member’s idea didn’t work out as planned, Jane praised their creativity and facilitated a discussion on what the team could learn from the experience.
In just a few months, the transformation was remarkable. Meetings buzzed with energy and new ideas. Team members collaborated more openly, and their sales campaigns became more innovative than ever before.
Jane’s team thrived because she prioritised trust, vulnerability, and safety over perfection.
Takeaway for Leaders: A psychologically safe workplace is where people feel secure to take risks, admit mistakes, and share ideas.
Question for Leaders: How can you take the first step to create this for your team?
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UPGRADE your Mindset
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