EP 152: Trauma Happens When We're Left Alone: Chris Burris on Psychological Safety and IFS in Groups

You have probably heard of the concept of psychological safety and what it takes to foster it on your team and in spaces you lead.Maybe you’ve read books or taken trainings. Here’s the tricky thing: psychological safety is an emergent quality of the group environment, shaped by leadership behaviors and team norms. You, as the leader, are a key variable. So when you walk into a high-stakes meeting, and your self-protective parts are running the show? It impacts everyone around you and whether they can experience psychological safety.The only way that we can cultivate psychological safety outside of us, is to cultivate self-leadership within. When we can move from a place of authenticity and courage, rather than discomfort or fear, the people around us feel seen, heard, and connected. They have trust. They feel safe.Today my guest and I are talking about what it actually takes to lead groups and teams well, and the hard, necessary work of leading yourself first. Chris Burris, M.Ed., LCMHCS, LMFT, is a Senior Lead Trainer for the Internal Family Systems Institute. He has spent decades bringing the IFS model into groups and teams,  not just the therapy room. He has trained close to 200 facilitators across 18 group facilitator trainings worldwide. He is the author of Creating Healing Circles: Using the Internal Family Systems Model in Facilitating Groups. Listen to the full episode to hear:How empathy, tempered with understanding our purpose and boundaries, helps us lead betterWhy recognizing and acknowledging others’ emotions is not the same as taking responsibility for themWhat changes when leaders make an effort to understand the deeper origins of behaviorsHow IFS provides a model for addressing conflict in groups The importance of learning to recognize when you’re activated and suggestions for approaching repair with others when neededHow team leaders can shape dynamics that are clear, purposeful, and supportive, even through disagreements and differencesLearn more about Chris Burris:WebsiteLearn more about Rebecca:rebeccaching.comWork With RebeccaThe Unburdened Leader on SubstackSign up for the weekly Unburdened Leader EmailResources:The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth, Amy C EdmondsonCarl RogersIntraconnected: Mwe (Me + We) as the Integration of Self, Identity, and Belonging, Daniel J. Siegel MDBillie Eilish - ocean eyesAvatar