They are also the most inclusive teams and the teams that people want to be part of. Leadership development experts Dr. Karolin Helbig and Minette Norman share 25 proven moves to help you increase the psychological safety in your team and to lead more powerfully by being more human.
The Psychological Safety Playbook is an invitation to play—to pick one of the specific moves in the book, experiment with it, and discover what best aligns with your context and leadership style. What we know from practice: Introducing even one new move from our playbook will make a huge difference in your team culture!
The printed book, audiobook, and eBook versions of The Psychological Safety Playbook are available from your favorite online retailers.
Want to share The Psychological Safety Playbook with your network? We created a series of volume purchase opportunities, ranging from micro-volume purchases for individuals and book clubs to larger-volume purchase opportunities. Once you’ve made a volume purchase, email info@thepsychologicalsafetyplaybook.com to claim your bonuses! For large-volume purchases, please contact orders@pagetwo.com. Discounts may be available, depending on volume.
Share your email address to subscribe to The Psychological Safety Playbook newsletter.
While psychological safety sounds like an academic term, it is, above all, a deeply human experience: when we can ask a naïve question, propose a wild idea, or share our emotions, knowing we will not be embarrassed or marginalized—that’s when we experience psychological safety, and we can be our best and most creative selves.
By contrast, when we don’t dare ask a question, when we hold back our true thoughts, and when we mask our emotions because we are afraid we will not be accepted, and we may well be humiliated—that’s when we experience a lack of psychological safety, and we can’t be at our best.
The Psychological Safety Playbook contains 25 psychological safety moves—usable, real-world skills that every leader can learn and practice. Each move has a description of why to try it with references to the supporting research and step-by-step instructions on how to do it. You can start anywhere in the playbook and pick what you are particularly interested in learning more about. Whether you are an executive, a manager, or anyone who cares about building a healthy culture in which everyone can fully contribute, you will be able to put The Psychological Safety Playbook to immediate use.
The authors, Dr. Karolin Helbig and Minette Norman, met online when participating in a certification program for administering psychological safety assessments based on Amy C. Edmondson’s work. They connected immediately around their shared beliefs about inclusive, empathetic, and mindful leadership and struck up a collaboration with the idea of writing a practical guide to psychological safety. They envisioned a book that they themselves would have loved to have as leaders: Concise and practical, though research-based and offering relevant resources for further exploration. They ended up writing The Psychological Safety Playbook, never having met face to face. After collaborating virtually for more than two years, they finally met in person in July 2023 when they spoke at the SIY Global Summit.
Dr. Karolin Helbig is a leadership consultant with a focus on mindset and emotional intelligence. She is convinced that strong leadership and real change always start inside: It’s the way we think and feel, the way we approach challenges and the people around us that determine our effectiveness and success.
Minette Norman is an inclusive leadership consultant and speaker, who spent the first thirty years of her professional career in the software industry. In her consulting business, Minette focuses on developing transformational leaders who create inclusive working environments with a foundation of psychological safety. Minette has extensive experience leading globally distributed teams and believes that when groups leverage diversity in all its forms, breakthroughs happen.
Want to work directly with us? We offer talks and workshops, Fearless Organization psychological safety assessments, and ongoing consulting with individuals and teams to help you increase psychological safety in your organization. Please reach out—we are happy to explore what’s most relevant and effective for your situation!
Our work always builds on what you already have in place, because we believe in leveraging existing strengths and growing from there.
From our experience, we know that increasing psychological safety is a true culture change and takes time to cultivate. We will partner with you to find the optimal engagement model to support your organization’s needs. We work virtually or in person. Karolin is based in Bonn, Germany, and Minette is based in the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S..
Let’s talk about psychological safety in your organization!