{"id":659,"date":"2024-09-12T11:30:27","date_gmt":"2024-09-12T11:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cube-ld.co.uk\/blog\/?p=659"},"modified":"2025-04-01T12:41:22","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T12:41:22","slug":"building-trust-and-psychological-safety-in-the-workplace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cube-ld.co.uk\/blog\/building-trust-and-psychological-safety-in-the-workplace\/","title":{"rendered":"Building trust and psychological safety in the workplace"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Building trust and psychological safety in the workplace is no longer optional; it is essential for any organisation aiming to succeed. As leaders, creating an environment where employees feel safe to voice ideas, take risks, and express concerns without fear of judgment is critical to unlocking their potential.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Why trust matters<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The data speaks for itself. High-trust workplaces consistently outperform low-trust counterparts in virtually every measure of success:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"6\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achievers.com\/blog\/building-trust-workplace\/\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">96% of engaged employees trust their management<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">, compared to just 46% of disengaged employees<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"6\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Companies with high trust experience\u202f<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/haiilo.com\/blog\/trust-in-the-workplace\/\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">50% higher productivity<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u202f<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">74% less stress<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">, and\u202f<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">76% more engagement<\/span><\/b><\/a> <span data-contrast=\"none\">among their workforce<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"6\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Trusting employees are\u202f<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/haiilo.com\/blog\/trust-in-the-workplace\/\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">260% more motivated<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u202f<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">41% less absent<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">, and\u202f<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">50% less likely to seek employment elsewhere<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">But it\u2019s not just about employee wellbeing. Organisations built on trust see significant financial returns &#8211; <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/haiilo.com\/blog\/trust-in-the-workplace\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">high-trust companies generate three times the total shareholder return<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u202fof low-trust companies. These statistics highlight the powerful ripple effect that trust has across both employee experience and the bottom line.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Psychological safety: A key ingredient for innovation<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Psychological safety goes hand-in-hand with trust and is vital for creating an environment where innovation thrives. When employees feel safe to take risks and share new ideas without fear of backlash, they are more likely to contribute to the organisation&#8217;s growth. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hbr.org\/2023\/02\/what-is-psychological-safety\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> describes psychological safety as a climate where people feel free to speak up and share without concern for their standing within the company.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">But the benefits go beyond innovation:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"7\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/jackkelly\/2024\/03\/12\/the-trust-gap-between-employers-and-workers\/\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">61% of workers<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u202f<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">believe their productivity is hampered by the lack of trust from their employer<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"7\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">The presence of psychological safety creates a culture where\u202flearning, growth, and open communication\u202fare the norm, helping to break down mental health stigmas and foster emotional wellbeing<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Leadership\u2019s role in trust and safety<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">While many CEOs acknowledge the importance of trust,\u202f<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/haiilo.com\/blog\/trust-in-the-workplace\/\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">55% still see a lack of trust as a threat to their organisation\u2019s growth<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">. Building this trust starts at the top, with leaders modelling the behaviours they wish to see in their teams. Transparent communication, clear role expectations, and an openness to feedback are crucial for setting the tone.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">However, there\u2019s often a gap between perception and reality.\u202f<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwc.com\/us\/en\/library\/trust-in-business-survey.html\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">86% of executives<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u202fbelieve their employees trust them, yet only\u202f<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">67% of employees<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u202ffeel the same<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">. Closing this gap requires ongoing effort from leaders to actively demonstrate trustworthiness through:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"8\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Fair treatment and fair pay<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u202f(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwc.com\/us\/en\/library\/trust-in-business-survey.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">77% of employees cite these as crucial<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"8\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Protecting both\u202f<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">employee data<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u202fand adhering to ethical behaviours (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwc.com\/us\/en\/library\/trust-in-business-survey.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">72% of employees prioritise this in building trust<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Practical steps for building trust and safety<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li data-leveltext=\"%1.\" data-font=\"Calibri,Times New Roman\" data-listid=\"9\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Role modelling from the top<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">: Leaders must understand the power of demonstrating trust. This could mean being transparent about their own challenges and showing vulnerability. Sharing personal stories &#8211; such as struggles with mental health &#8211; can encourage employees to feel safe doing the same.<\/span><br \/>\n<span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol>\n<li data-leveltext=\"%1.\" data-font=\"Calibri,Times New Roman\" data-listid=\"9\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Create a safe space for feedback<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">: Regularly invite feedback from all levels of the organisation. Employees must know their input will be valued and acted upon, without fear of retaliation.<\/span><br \/>\n<span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol>\n<li data-leveltext=\"%1.\" data-font=\"Calibri,Times New Roman\" data-listid=\"9\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Clear communication and expectations<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">: Make sure everyone understands their role and what&#8217;s expected of them. Ambiguity in responsibilities can lead to confusion, which erodes trust.<\/span><br \/>\n<span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol>\n<li data-leveltext=\"%1.\" data-font=\"Calibri,Times New Roman\" data-listid=\"9\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Encourage risk-taking<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">: Reward employees for innovative thinking, even when it doesn\u2019t result in immediate success. The goal is to build an environment where experimentation is encouraged, and mistakes are seen as learning opportunities.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Final thoughts<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Investing in trust and psychological safety is not just about creating a happier workplace \u2013 it\u2019s about driving tangible business outcomes.\u202f<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwc.com\/us\/en\/library\/trust-in-business-survey.html\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">93% of business executives<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u202f<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">agree that an organisation\u2019s ability to build and maintain trust directly impacts its bottom line. By nurturing these qualities, leaders can reveal their teams&#8217; full potential, drive innovation, and position their organisations for long-term success.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">For personalised guidance on building trust and psychological safety tailored to your organisation&#8217;s needs, contact <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cube-ld.co.uk\/contact.php\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Cube Learning and Development<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> today. Speak with Chris Burton at 07879 602002 for expert advice and support.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Building trust and psychological safety in the workplace is no longer optional; it is essential for any organisation aiming to succeed. As leaders, creating an environment where employees feel safe to voice ideas, take risks, and express concerns without fear of judgment is critical to unlocking their potential.\u00a0 Why trust matters\u00a0 The data speaks for itself. High-trust workplaces consistently outperform low-trust counterparts in virtually every measure of success:\u00a0 96% of engaged employees trust their management, compared to just 46% of disengaged employees\u00a0 Companies with high trust experience\u202f50% higher productivity,\u202f74% less<span class=\"excerpt-hellip\"> [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":660,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-659","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cube-ld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cube-ld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cube-ld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cube-ld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cube-ld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=659"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cube-ld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/659\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":661,"href":"https:\/\/cube-ld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/659\/revisions\/661"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cube-ld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cube-ld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cube-ld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cube-ld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}