Psychological Safety in Teams

Correct Answer: Team members rarely share innovative ideas during meetings

In environments with low psychological safety, team members are most likely to hold back their innovative ideas during meetings, as they fear criticism, judgment, or negative consequences. This behavior is a clear indicator of low psychological safety because: - People fear making mistakes or appearing incompetent - Team members worry about potential negative reactions to their suggestions - Innovation and creativity are suppressed due to fear of failure - People stay silent rather than risk exposure The other options are less accurate because: - Active participation while only agreeing with leadership suggests authority bias rather than psychological safety issues - Engaging in debates while avoiding responsibility indicates a different team dysfunction related to accountability - Limiting personal interactions while maintaining professional relationships is more indicative of team cohesion issues rather than psychological safety concerns The key characteristic of low psychological safety is self-censoring and reluctance to speak up, which is best represented in team members not sharing innovative ideas.

Correct Answer: Team members openly discuss their mistakes during retrospectives

Team members openly discussing their mistakes during retrospectives is the best indicator of psychological safety in an Agile team because: It demonstrates that: - Team members feel secure enough to be vulnerable - They trust their colleagues - They know admitting mistakes leads to learning and improvement - The team values transparency and continuous improvement The other options are incorrect because: Always agreeing with leadership indicates fear of confrontation or groupthink, not psychological safety. Consistently delivering perfect work suggests fear of failure and criticism, indicating low psychological safety. Focusing only on positive feedback shows an inability to have constructive conversations about problems, which indicates low psychological safety. Psychological safety is about creating an environment where team members can take interpersonal risks, speak up, and be their authentic selves at work.

Correct Answer: Model vulnerability by admitting mistakes and encouraging learning from failures

Modeling vulnerability by admitting mistakes and encouraging learning from failures is the most effective approach for enhancing psychological safety because: - It creates an environment where team members feel safe to take interpersonal risks - It demonstrates through leadership behavior that mistakes are opportunities for learning - It builds trust and authenticity within the team - It encourages open dialogue and honest communication The other approaches are less effective because: Strict protocols and guidelines can create rigidity and fear, reducing psychological safety rather than enhancing it. Mandatory one-on-one sessions may feel forced and create anxiety, potentially undermining the natural development of psychological safety. Detailed documentation of conflicts might make team members hesitant to speak up, fearing their mistakes or disagreements will be permanently recorded and potentially used against them later.