This Working Life What are we getting wrong about psychosocial safety?
Aug 22, 2025
Rachael Potter, a research lead at the University of South Australia, and Amy Edmondson, a Harvard Business School professor, tackle the confusion between psychological and psychosocial safety in workplaces. They discuss the pressing need for mental health investments, especially in small businesses, and how leadership plays a crucial role in fostering open communication. The conversation highlights Australia's regulatory advancements and their impact on workplace conditions, emphasizing the importance of understanding psychosocial hazards for overall productivity.
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Holding Back Causes Failures And Stifles Innovation
- Lack of psychological safety causes two harms: hidden problems that become failures and lost innovation.
- Amy Edmondson highlights both safety catastrophes and missed creative breakthroughs.
Frame Uncertainty To Invite Input
- Start team conversations by naming project uncertainty and novelty to invite idea-sharing.
- Amy Edmondson suggests this frames why every voice matters and encourages speaking up.
Design Jobs To Reduce Pressure
- Reduce psychosocial hazards like low job control and excessive workload to boost productivity.
- Rachael Potter links better job control and demand balance to lower turnover and higher engagement.