Creating Connections Challenge
Psychological Safety
In this video, Dr. Jackson explores why psychological safety is the foundation of every thriving team. He shares a personal story from his years in a Buddhist monastery — a moment that reshaped how he thinks about trust, vulnerability, and belonging — and connects it to the findings of Google's Project Aristotle, the landmark study that set out to discover what makes teams effective. The answer wasn't who was on the team, but how safe people felt to speak up, take risks, and be themselves. By the end, you'll understand what psychological safety really is, why it matters more than talent alone, and how it shows up (or doesn't) in your own workplace.
Homework:
Over the next two days, we'll practice what psychological safety feels like — by creating a little of it right here.
Day 1 — Share your story. Think of a moment at work when you felt psychologically safe: a time you spoke up with a half-formed idea, admitted a mistake, asked a "silly" question, or simply felt you could be fully yourself. What made that moment possible? Who or what created the conditions for it? Post your story in the community. It doesn't need to be polished — honest beats perfect.
Day 2 — Respond to a colleague. Read through your colleagues' stories and leave a thoughtful comment on at least one. Notice what resonates, name what you appreciate, or share how their experience connects to your own. The way we respond to each other's openness is exactly how psychological safety gets built — one exchange at a time.
