38. Cultivating Psychological Safety

In this deeply personal episode of Power Skills with Janna, Janna Jones—former safety practitioner turned leadership coach—dives into the quiet engine of thriving teams: Psychological Safety. Drawing on Amy Edmondson’s groundbreaking research (Google’s Project Aristotle, four-stage model, fearless organizations), Janna unpacks how safety isn’t “fluffy”—it’s the #1 driver of performance. When people feel safe, they speak up, innovate, and learn. When they don’t, they hide, disengage, and risk escalates.

Through neuroscience (amygdala vs. oxytocin), real stories (a $40K save from early error reporting), and human tools—like round-robin check-ins, pre-reads for neurodivergent thinkers, and “fist to five” energy checks—Janna shows how to build safety with clarity, learning framing, vulnerability, and productive response. Because what you focus on, you amplify.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why psychological safety beats talent, IQ, or structure (Project Aristotle).
• How to start meetings with inclusion and clarity—no more crickets.
• Why framing work as a “learning problem” unlocks innovation.
• How vulnerability and curious questions build trust.
• Rituals like “no-agenda huddles” and “parking lot” ideas that stick.

🎧 Tune in for reflection prompts, a fist-to-five energy check, and a challenge to transform one meeting. Connect on LinkedIn @PowerSkillsDevelopment or visit www.PowerSkillsDevelopment.com. Subscribe to Power Pause for weekly nudges to lead with courage. Empower powerfully, friends.