A thought on psychological safety and leadership

“You shouldn’t blindly accept a leader’s advice. You’ve got to question leaders on occasion.”
— Richard Branson

The above, which comes from the Virgin founder’s 2011 book, Business Stripped Bare, speaks to something I think many leaders would naturally agree is reasonable … but that they may not be inclined to do. That is, put themselves in situations where others (I don’t want to say subordinates, but let’s be frank) can put a question to them with psychological safety.

I’ve worked with lots of leaders over the years, not just in my own workspaces but also because training assignments have brought me (often briefly but sometimes deeply) into contact with lots of different teams. Many of the leaders I admire are the ones who don’t just welcome questions, but encourage them: it can be about accountability, it can be about better work, it can be about team-building. Poor leaders not only avoid situations where questions can be asked, but where conversations can even start.