
Creating psychological safety in an educational setting requires deep personal reflection as well as intentional actions that foster trust, openness, and comfort among participants. Here are some strategies:
- Warm Welcome: Start by greeting everyone warmly and with genuine enthusiasm. A friendly smile, a welcoming gesture, or a brief acknowledgment can instantly help participants feel valued and accepted.
- Icebreaker Activity: Engage participants in a brief icebreaker activity that encourages interaction and connection. This could be as simple as asking everyone to share a fun fact about themselves or a memorable experience related to the topic at hand. Icebreakers help break down barriers and create a sense of camaraderie among participants.
- Setting Ground Rules: Establish clear ground rules for communication and participation. Emphasize the importance of respect, active listening, and open-mindedness. Encourage participants to voice their opinions and ideas without fear of judgment or criticism.
- Normalize Vulnerability: Model vulnerability by sharing a personal anecdote or admitting a mistake. This demonstrates authenticity and humility, making it easier for participants to feel comfortable sharing their own thoughts and experiences.
- Encourage Contribution: Actively encourage participation from all participants, regardless of their background or level of expertise. Use inclusive language and affirm each contribution, no matter how small. This validates individuals' perspectives and encourages continued engagement.
- Express Empathy: Demonstrate empathy by actively listening to participants' concerns, validating their emotions, and offering support when needed. Show genuine interest in their experiences and perspectives, and avoid dismissing or invalidating their feelings.
- Create a Supportive Environment: Foster a sense of teamwork and collaboration by emphasizing that everyone is part of a supportive learning community. Encourage peer support and mutual respect, and intervene promptly if any behavior undermines psychological safety.
- Provide Immediate Feedback: Offer constructive feedback in real-time to reinforce positive behaviors and address any concerns that arise. Be specific, respectful, and solution-focused, and highlight the importance of continuous improvement and learning. Think about the context for how and when to deliver that feedback by asking about preferences.
By implementing these strategies, educators can create a supportive and inclusive learning environment where participants feel safe to express themselves, take risks, and engage fully in the educational experience.
In healthcare simulation, there are many risks to psychological safety. Simulations may be based on cases that can evoke strong emotions on the team or on an individual. Participation in simulation is a way of being assessed where participants may fear judgment and breach of confidentiality of their performance.
There is one powerful strategy that could help build psychological safety within seconds: to learn alongside your students as you would in a clinical setting. Professor Janice Palaganas challenges current standard healthcare simulation practices in her article, “How do you learn? Come join me.” By simply participating in the simulation as a senior team member meant to support the group, students can feel psychologically safer. Additionally, by flexing the learning to the skill level of the students while in action is a better way of identifying learning needs.