Practices for Psychological Safety
by Helen Sanderson
The Architecture of Mattering with Zach Mercurio
About this podcast
Happy, healthy, high performing teams - how do you create them?
Research suggests it takes psychological safety, social connection and autonomy. You are likely to spend more time with your team than your family, so this really matters.
This podcast is to share practices that helps teams be real with each other, connect, feel safe to be themselves and do great work.
I'm Helen Sanderson and my first podcast series was called A Cup of Teal. It explored self-management practices and shared our learning from Wellbeing Teams. Wellbeing Teams were self-managed teams, inspired by Buurtzorg, supporting people to live well at home and be part of their community. We were 'Outstanding' by CQC, and delivered support to people in teams across the UK for four years.
Most of the practices we talk about in this podcast formed part of how Wellbeing Teams worked.
However, this podcast is not about self-management. I believe that all teams can grow in psychological safety, deepen connections and more towards greater autonomy. This podcast is for any team leader who wants to learn about the practices that can help, learning from my colleagues, mentors and me.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 30 episodes
- The Architecture of Mattering with Zach Mercurio · 45 min · Season 2 Episode 9"It is very hard for anything to matter to someone who doesn't first believe that they matter. And on the flip side, when people feel that they matter, they act like they…
- Putting the Moose Head on the Table with Lisa Gill · 48 min · Season 2 Episode 8Nobody is talking about this moose head on the table even though we all see it, we all smell it. Podcaster, author, and leadership trainer, Lisa Gill of Tuff Leadership Training…
- Building Psychological Safety as a Team Sport with Jade Garrett & Tom Geraghty · 40 min · Season 2 Episode 7Psychological safety isn't just a leadership responsibility—it’s a team sport. Co-founders of psychsafety.com, Jade Garrett and Tom Geraghty explore how teams can practically…
- Creating an Inclusive and Thriving Workplace Culture in a GP surgery with Ben Allen · 36 min · Season 2 Episode 6How do you turn around a struggling healthcare workplace with high turnover, low morale, and patient satisfaction below the national average - without an extra budget or more…
- The Power of Listening and Adult Conversations with Karin Tenelius · 28 min · Season 2 Episode 5How do you address uncomfortable topics that hinder team progress? Karin Tenelius from Tuff Leadership Training joins Helen to argue that traditional management often fails…
- The Link Between Stress, Safety, and Performance with Dr Jessica Cooper · 35 min · Season 2 Episode 4How does the nervous system influence team dynamics and psychological safety in the workplace? Helen chats to Dr. Jessica Cooper to explore practical ways to foster safety…
- What Really Strengthens Work Relationships with Colin Fisher · 51 min · Season 2 Episode 3Organisational behaviour and innovation expert, Colin Fisher shares groundbreaking ideas on team dynamics, leadership, psychological safety, and how to foster effective…
- Psychological Safety as a Feeling with Dr Amanda Potter · 28 min · Season 2 Episode 2Dr Amanda Potter, CEO of B Talent chats to me about the psychometric tests that they've been developing and validating with 10 different scales based on how people are feeling…
- Embedding Practices for Psychological Safety with Rachael Dodgson · 18 min · Season 2 Episode 1Dimensions have a long history of embedding some of the practices that we talk about in psychological safety. Rachael Dodgson, CEO of Dimensions joins me to talk about what it's…
- Nic Marks talks about happiness and psychological safety · 37 min · Season 1 Episode 20I highly recommend Nic's new book - Happiness is a Serious Business
- Putting Team Agreements into Practice · 13 min · Season 1 Episode 18In this podcast I explain the six main ways to ensure that your team agreements make a difference.
- A different approach to one-to-ones with Lu Dash · 19 min · Season 1 Episode 12We have been doing action research with a range of leaders across health and social care to explore a different approach to one-to-ones. This has involved using Confirmation…
- What happens to Team Agreements when new team members join? Michelle Livesley explains. · 30 min · Season 1 Episode 11What do you do when new team members join an established team? Do you start Team Agreements from scratch again, or expect them to accept the Team Agreements as they are? Michelle…
- Using Team Agreements in Recruitment with Sam Jones · 12 min · Season 1 Episode 10What difference could it make if Team Agreements were part of the recruitment, induction and probation process? This is what Sam is experimenting with. Sam Jones is an Associate…
- A different approach to one-to-ones with Speech and Language Therapists · 26 min · Season 1 Episode 17We have been doing action research with a range of leaders across health and social care to explore a different approach to one-to-ones. This has involved using Confirmation…
- Talking team Immunity to Change maps with Diana Cole · 38 min · Season 1 Episode 9What can you do when your team keeps getting stuck with one of their Team Agreements? One option is to use an Immunity to Change map, and in this podcast Diana explains how we…
- Can you scale Team Agreements? Find out from Martin O'Connor · 27 min · Season 1 Episode 8Can Team Agreements be scaled across an organisation? Martin is a clinical and coaching psychologist in Ireland and talks about how he is introducing Team Agreements at scale and…
- A team leaders perspective on Team Agreements with Rachel Owen · 21 min · Season 1 Episode 7Rachel describes how she introduced Team Agreements to Flying Start at the Isle of Anglesey Council. She talks about where the team was at the beginning, what she did and the…
- Talking Immunity to Change maps with Barb · 18 min · Season 1 Episode 6If you have imposter syndrome, can you change it? I supported Barb Swartz-Biscaro to develop her Immunity to Change map and in this podcast she talks about they change she wanted…
- Talking preventing bullying using Team Agreements with Liza Collins · 26 min · Season 1 Episode 5Liza opened my eyes to the potential of Team Agreements being a potential preventive strategy. Can they help prevent bullying and harassment in the workplace? Liza thinks so and…







