As leaders, such as Scrum Masters, Project Managers, or members of the PMO, we often focus on creating a psychologically safe environment for our teams. However, it's equally important for us to ensure our own psychological safety. How do you think a leader can maintain a psychologically safe environment for themselves while continuously working to provide it for others? Saving Changes...
Coach and educate upwards, increase mindfulness and focus on improving your own EI. And no when a situation will remain unsafe in spite of what you do and take measures to protect yourself.
Kiron Saving Changes...
Eric SimmsSenior Program ManagerBaltimore, Maryland, United States
The fact you asked this question makes me think a psychologically safe environment isn't naturally provided by those to whom you report. In that case, one way to maintain a psychologically safe environment is to force it into being. This usually means pushing back against those who are creating the unsafe environment in the first place; expressing disatisfaction with their actions and proposing alternatives is an example. Some executives view contention as a normal and even good thing and expect you to push back against them, and don't realize their subordinates feel unsafe (that said, others are quite aware they're bullying their subordinates). Knowing this might help you interact with those above you in such a way as to produce the results you want. Saving Changes...
Erick, It is an very interesting question! From my experience, it is important to have someone you can trust in your organisation. It can be your manager or someone else from your team. If it is uncomfortable, one can seek assistance from outside the organisation. However, many organisations provide psychological assistance which is completely anonymous and some are even experimenting with AI based tools. There are some PMI Chapters who have camfire events where you can dicuss about your professional challenges in a safe environment with fellow professionals. If nothing seems feasible, one may try to look into the various possibe triggers for stress and work on them.
I hope it helps :) Saving Changes...
Stoicism offers one of the best approaches for enhancing mental wellness in project managers, empowering them to lead effectively and create an optimal project environment. Saving Changes...
Project & PMO Manager | Research & Enterprise Mentor| GFB HoldingSouth America, Brazil
Your perspective on maintaining psychological safety for leaders is insightful. Here's a response based on your input:
Leaders, such as Scrum Masters, Project Managers, or PMO members, can maintain their own psychological safety while providing it for others by:
1. Defining personal purpose and values: Understand what truly motivates you and aligns with your core beliefs.
2. Self-awareness: Conduct a personal SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
3. Building a support network: Cultivate relationships with peers and mentors who can offer guidance and support.
4. Setting boundaries: Determine what you're willing to accept and what crosses your limits.
5. Focusing on purpose over tasks: Shift perspective from viewing work as a burden to seeing it as a path towards your greater purpose.
6. Embracing individuality: Don't follow the crowd ("manada"); chart your own course based on your values and goals.
7. Regular self-reflection: Periodically reassess your goals, stress levels, and overall well-being.
8. Accepting peaks and valleys: Recognize that stress and challenges are normal, but constant overload is not.
By implementing these strategies, leaders can create a psychologically safe environment for themselves, enabling them to better support their teams and navigate the complexities of their roles with resilience and purpose. Saving Changes...
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