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.
Have you ever stopped to ask yourself what really gives people the courage to speak up, take risks, and try something new at work?
I’ve spent years watching leaders and teams at every level, and one thing is clear: courage doesn’t appear out of thin air. It grows in places where people feel safe to show up as themselves. Where they can ask the uncomfortable questions, challenge old habits, and still feel respected. That’s what I call a safe space. And in leadership, safe spaces aren’t a luxury, they’re the foundation of every courageous move we make.
Why courage needs safety
I often remind leaders that bravery doesn’t mean charging ahead without fear. It means acting with fear and doing it anyway. But people can only do that if they trust that they won’t be punished or humiliated for speaking their mind. According to research from MIT Sloan Review, teams that feel psychologically safe innovate faster, recover from setbacks more easily, and hold each other accountable with honesty and care.
I’ve seen it firsthand. A team that feels safe will question ideas constructively, try new approaches, and bring fresh energy to problem-solving. On the other hand, a team that feels judged will avoid risk and that’s where progress stalls. Creating that balance between psychological safety and risk-taking is what I call courageous leadership in action.
If you’re curious about how this looks in practice, using a courageous leadership mindset can help teams take smarter risks and turn challenges into growth opportunities.
Creating the conditions for courage
Safe spaces aren’t built through rules or handbooks. They’re built through relationships through trust, empathy, and consistency. People don’t follow titles; they follow those who make them feel seen. Leaders who model calm under pressure, admit mistakes, and listen deeply are the ones who create the emotional safety for others to speak up.
I remember a discussion where a leader said, “I want my team to take initiative, but they’re hesitant.” My first question back was: “When was the last time you admitted a mistake in front of them?” Often, our openness creates the permission they’ve been waiting for.
This is the essence of what I teach in our speak safe workshop. It will help leaders build environments where conversations flow freely and respectfully, even when they’re tough. When leaders lead with authenticity and care, courageous conversations become the norm, not the exception.
Leaders set the emotional tone
There’s a line from Harvard Business Review that’s always stayed with me: the best leaders aren’t afraid to be vulnerable. That doesn’t mean over-sharing, it means being real. It’s showing that courage and compassion can co-exist. When leaders demonstrate vulnerability, they make space for others to be brave too.
It’s also about presence. As leaders, our energy sets the emotional temperature of the team. If we react defensively or dismissively, safety disappears in an instant. But if we stay grounded even in disagreement we send a clear message: “It’s okay to challenge ideas here.” That’s where brave leadership moves start to take shape.
Creating that type of culture ties closely to what I wrote in safe teams start with brave leaders — a reminder that safety begins at the top and ripples outward through every interaction.
From speaking up to stepping forward
People often tell me, “Anton, my team is quiet, they don’t push back.” And my answer is usually the same: they probably don’t feel safe enough to. Silence is rarely a sign of agreement; it’s a sign of fear. True leadership starts when people feel free to speak without fear of judgment. That’s why I created the speak safe workshop to give leaders the tools to build teams that talk, connect, and act with courage.
There’s some fascinating research from the NeuroLeadership Institute showing that psychological safety isn’t just about “being nice”, it’s about helping the brain stay in a state where learning and collaboration can happen. When people feel safe, they don’t go into fight-or-flight mode. They stay curious, and curiosity is what leads to breakthroughs.
What safe spaces really mean for leaders
Safe spaces don’t mean avoiding tough conversations. They mean approaching them with respect, empathy, and purpose. Courageous leaders don’t shy away from feedback or challenge they invite it. They turn disagreement into dialogue, and mistakes into learning.
If you’re ready to take that next step, you can book me for a session where we explore how to build psychological safety while keeping performance strong. This is also a great way to bring your senior team together for honest, productive conversations that lead to real change. (Link Out To Workshop CTA section here)
Final thoughts
I believe every leader has a choice: to rule through control or to lead through connection. Courage without safety can feel reckless. Safety without courage can feel stagnant. But when we build both together that’s when teams thrive.
If you’d like to chat about how to bring more courage and safety into your workplace, reach out through the contact page. Or better yet, come along to one of our speak safe workshops and see how these ideas come to life in real conversations.
Because the truth is simple: courageous moves don’t happen by accident. They happen when leaders make it safe enough to be brave.
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If you would like to learn more about Anton or The Guinea Group, please click here to book into Anton’s calendar, to:
UPGRADE your Mindset
UPSKILL your Leadership
UPLIFT your Teams