In 2012, Google launched Project Aristotle to study what made their best teams thrive. After years of research across 180 teams, the number one predictor of success wasn’t IQ, seniority, or even workload—it was psychological safety: the belief that you can speak up without fear of judgment or punishment. Teams with high psychological safety outperformed others on innovation, problem-solving, and resilience under pressure.
Harvard professor Amy Edmondson, who coined the term, describes it this way: “A psychologically safe workplace is one where people are not afraid to speak up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes.”
What’s often overlooked is how expensive the absence of psychological safety is for businesses. A 2023 Gallup study found that not-engaged or actively disengaged employees account for approximately $1.9 trillion in lost productivity nationally—much of it tied to a lack of meaningful conversations, which means withholding ideas or staying silent about risks. In healthcare, Edmondson’s research revealed a paradox: hospitals with higher psychological safety reported more mistakes—not fewer. At first glance, this looked like failure. In reality, it meant nurses and doctors were speaking up, catching errors earlier, and ultimately saving more lives.
The lesson is clear: silence is costly. In companies, it leads to missed innovation, preventable errors, and lost trust.
Bringing it Home
Families, like teams, thrive when people feel heard. A child who feels safe admitting “I forgot my homework” is far more likely to grow in responsibility than one who hides mistakes out of fear. A spouse who can share, “I’m overwhelmed and need support,” builds intimacy rather than resentment. Even siblings learn how to trust each other when honesty isn’t punished.
The absence of psychological safety in a family doesn’t just silence voices—it slowly erodes connection. Children may stop volunteering opinions, teenagers may retreat into secrecy, and adults may carry unspoken grievances for years. On the other hand, families that cultivate safety tend to raise children who are confident communicators, spouses who problem-solve together, and multi-generational households that can navigate succession conversations openly.
Think of family psychological safety as a protective net. It doesn’t mean conflict disappears—arguments and mistakes still happen—but it ensures that when someone stumbles, the net is strong enough to catch them.
A Small Practice
This week, set aside a few minutes at dinner or bedtime for each family member to share one gratitude and one worry. The goal is not to fix or respond, but simply to acknowledge. The act of listening—without rushing to solutions—signals that it’s safe to be honest here. Over time, these small habits build the foundation for bigger conversations.
"Safety is not the absence of threat, but the presence of connection."
<br/><span class="body-2 opacity-80" style="padding-top:0.75rem">~ Gabor Maté</span>
