In the world of writing, the number one rule is “show, don’t tell.” Harvard researcher Amy Edmondson suggests the same holds true when leaders want to foster psychological safety in the workplace — simply saying “it’s okay to speak up” might not be enough to convince people and create a shared belief. She urges leaders to model candor themselves (i.e., to “show” that it’s safe to tell hard truths by disagreeing or admitting failures).

In this video lesson, Edmondson offers active strategies for leaders to build psychological safety and the learning environments that go hand-in-hand with it.