Evidence brief · Peer-reviewed · Multi-method field study of work teams in one manufacturing company
Psychological safety and learning behavior in work teams
Edmondson, A. (1999). Psychological safety and learning behavior in work teams. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(2), 350-383. https://doi.org/10.2307/2666999 (opens in a new tab)
Publisher: SAGE Publications (Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell University)
- What the study reported
- Team psychological safety, a shared belief that the team is safe for interpersonal risk taking, was associated with team learning behavior, which in turn was associated with team performance.
- How it informs leadership practice
- Informs practice prompts that invite concerns and questions before decisions, and that respond to bad news without penalty.
- Limitations
- Correlational data from a single organization. It does not show that any individual leader behavior or exercise creates psychological safety.
- Conceptual mapping
- Honor the Human Contract
- Navigate the Human Side of Change
Editorial interpretation. The study did not examine the H.U.M.A.N. framework.
Used in: Difficult Conversations & Feedback, Leading Through Change
Paraphrased summary. Read the original article via the DOI link for full methods and results.