What do you think makes a team successful? What separates a high-performing team from an average team or underperforming team?
Research overwhelming states that the number one trait for the most successful teams is psychological safety.
What is psychological safety? “It’s a belief that one will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns or mistakes, ” Amy Edmondson.
As a team building expert, I’d recommend having your team take this psychological safety test.
Here it is (taken from this research study):
1) If you make a mistake on this team, it is often held against you
2) Members of this team are able to bring up problems and tough issues.
3) People on this team sometimes reject others for being different
4) It is safe to take a risk on this team
5) It is difficult to ask other members of this team for help
6) No one on this team would deliberately act in a way that undermines my efforts
7) Working with members of this team, my unique skills and talents are valued and utilized
Use a 1 to 5 scale: 1 strongly disagree, 2 disagree, 3 neutral, 4 agree & 5 is strongly agree
Bonus two questions: It’s safe to take a risk on this team…
8) With the person I’m most comfortable with
9) With the person I’m least comfortable with
If your score isn’t a 5 or close to it, I’d recommend working on it. The first place is to build trust (and a high level of it).
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