Empathy Edge: Building Psychological Safety One Team at a Time

This is your The Women's Leadership Podcast podcast. Welcome back to The Women's Leadership Podcast, where we empower you to step into your power and lead with unapologetic strength. I'm your host, and today we're diving straight into leading with empathy—specifically, how you, as a woman leader, can foster psychological safety in the workplace. This isn't just a buzzword; it's the foundation that turns teams into unstoppable forces. Picture this: You're in a high-stakes meeting at Google, where psychologist Amy Edmondson first coined the term psychological safety back in 1999. She found that teams thrive when people feel safe to take risks, voice ideas, and admit mistakes without fear of embarrassment or punishment. As women leaders, we have a unique superpower here—our natural empathy. Research from Google's Project Aristotle shows psychological safety as the number one factor in high-performing teams, outranking even individual talent. So, how do you build it? Start by modeling vulnerability, just like Laura Johnson, founder of Striving and author of Women in Leadership: 100 Stories, shares in her Career Confidence Podcast interview. She accidentally stumbled into leadership but learned to open up about her journey, creating space for her team to do the same. Share your own pratfall moments—those relatable stumbles followed by comebacks. Neuroscience expert Dr. Paul Zak explains in his work on storytelling that vulnerability triggers oxytocin, the trust hormone, making you more relatable and your team more collaborative. Next, listen actively and respond with empathy. In difficult conversations, use simple scripts like those from Washington Women Leaders: "I appreciate you sharing that. Help me understand how this impacts you." This invites honesty without judgment. Chelsea Clinton, in her Inspiring Women podcast reflection, talks about using her platform to remove biases, managing her portfolio by first ensuring her team feels heard. Foster it daily through inclusive practices. Encourage "I to we" language in meetings, as Dr. Zak recommends, shifting from solo heroics to collective wins. Set norms like no-interruption rounds, where everyone speaks once. Jennifer McCollum, who rose to CEO as detailed in In Her Own Voice podcast, emphasizes inclusive leadership to close the gender equity gap—her teams skyrocketed because she prioritized empathy over ego. Empathy isn't soft; it's strategic. Women like Kara Swisher, mentored early and now a tech powerhouse, prove that empathetic leaders drive innovation. Gallup reports teams with high psychological safety are 27% more likely to report satisfaction and 50% more engaged. Listeners, embrace this: Your empathy is your edge. Lead with it, watch your workplace transform, and empower the women around you to rise. Thank you for tuning in to The Women's Leadership Podcast. Subscribe now for more episodes that fuel your fire. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.a This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.