Agile fundamentals for teams

In this video, we're going to explore the importance of Psychological Safety.

It may sound technical, but it’s about ensuring teams are working in an environment where they can thrive. It ensures people feel safe to speak up, take risks, and be vulnerable. People shouldn't be afraid of negative consequences. This idea originated from research by Professor Amy Edmondson. She found teams are most effective when they can share ideas or concerns. In Agile teams, collaboration, adaptation, and experimentation are critical. So, for teams to thrive, psychological safety is essential.

In teams with high levels of psychological danger, there’s often a “fear of failure” or “fear of blame". Team members hold back, avoid risks, and hesitate to share feedback. This limits creativity, discourages collaboration, and causes setbacks that can disrupt Agile processes.

Where there's high levels of psychological safety, team members feel comfortable sharing ideas. They are able to make suggestions, admit mistakes, and learn from each other. This creates a cycle where continuous feedback leads to improvements, strengthening the team.

Let’s look at the four zones of psychological safety. This shows how psychological safety and commitment to standards work together. In this model, there are four zones: the Apathy Zone, Anxiety Zone, Comfort Zone, and Learning Zone.

The ambition is to operate in the Learning Zone. This is where high levels of psychological safety and high standards come together. In Agile, the Learning Zone means you can set ambitious goals and work in the open to reach them. This is where high performing teams operate. It's where you are comfortable experimenting and improving without fear. It is also where everyone maintains accountability to high standards.

Psychological safety means it’s “safe to discuss ideas, experiment, take risks, give feedback, and learn from mistakes.” This is the foundation of an inclusive team culture. Agile teams work best when everyone has a voice and can contribute.

It's where teams:

• encourage each other to try new things.
• acknowledge mistakes as learning opportunities
• and foster an environment where feedback is always welcome.

Everyone has a part to play in creating this culture and environment.

For Agile teams, psychological safety isn’t a "nice to have". It’s what allows you to be Agile. It's up to you to create a culture where every contribution helps you to deliver value.