Designing for psychological safety in group learning
At Makeshapes, we're passionate about the power of group learning. We believe that when people learn together, they learn more deeply, retain information better, and are more likely to apply their new knowledge and skills in the real world. However, for group learning to be truly effective, it's crucial to create a psychologically-safe environment.
The concept of team psychological safety was pioneered by Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson, who defines it as a "shared belief held by members of a team that the team is safe for interpersonal risk taking." It creates a climate where people feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas, asking questions, and even admitting when they don't know something, without fear of judgement or negative consequences. In the context of group learning, psychological safety is paramount for creating an environment conducive to active participation, knowledge sharing, and ultimately, impactful learning outcomes.
Let’s explore practical ways to design for psychological safety in both virtual and in-person group learning environments, ensuring all participants feel welcomed, included, and empowered to contribute. We’ll delve into the crucial elements that foster a safe and enriching environment, leveraging the insights we've gathered from delivering impactful group experiences to thousands of participants across various industries and cultures.
Why psychological safety matters
Before diving into the practical tips, let’s reiterate why psychological safety is so vital. When individuals feel safe, they are more likely to:
- Actively participate: Contributing to discussions, sharing experiences, and asking questions are key to social learning. A safe space encourages this active participation, allowing for a richer and more dynamic learning experience.
- Take risks: Learning often involves stepping outside of one's comfort zone and trying new things. In a psychologically safe environment, participants feel empowered to take these risks, experiment with new ideas, and push their boundaries without fear of failure.
- Learn from mistakes: Mistakes are inevitable in any learning process. A safe environment allows participants to view mistakes as learning opportunities, promoting reflection and growth without shame or embarrassment.
- Share diverse perspectives: Innovation and problem-solving thrive on diverse viewpoints. When individuals feel safe, they are more likely to share their unique perspectives, enriching the learning experience for everyone involved.
Practical tips for designing psychologically safe group learning
Here are some actionable strategies to create a psychologically safe environment in your group learning experiences:
- Establish shared agreements: Start by co-creating ground rules with the group. These agreements should outline expectations for respectful communication, active listening, and confidentiality. This shared understanding fosters a sense of ownership and accountability within the group. Examples of shared agreements might include:
- Respecting diverse opinions and perspectives.
- Ensuring equal opportunity for all participants to be heard.
- Encouraging active listening over debate.
- Maintaining confidentiality with sensitive information shared within the group.
- Connection before content: It's important to help participants connect as fellow humans, be it breaking the ice, or helping to set the tone. Either way, intentional activities to drive connection can be a great way to help people get to know each other, align around the purpose, and celebrate the diversity of views in the group.
- Be thoughtful about how people can engage: Recognise that not everyone is comfortable speaking up in a group setting. Offer diverse modes to contribute, such as individual reflection, group brainstorming (like post-its), or creative exercises like drawing. Activities that invite the whole group to have a voice while not just relying on discussion where the loudest voices can often dominate.
- Anonymity as a tool: Offering opportunities for anonymous participation can be incredibly powerful in fostering psychological safety. When learners can contribute without fear of judgement or being singled out, they're more likely to share honest thoughts and perspectives. This can lead to richer discussions, deeper insights, and more effective learning outcomes. Digital tools can be particularly powerful in supporting anonymity. With Makeshapes, for example, activities can be designed to display no names or avatars, ensuring responses remain completely anonymous. To further encourage vulnerability, we delay the display of responses until a certain number has been submitted. This prevents individuals from feeling exposed or singled out for their initial contributions.
- Smaller groups can feel safer: More intimate, smaller learning environments foster a greater sense of connection and encourage more active participation, especially compared to traditional facilitated sessions with 15+ learners. As explored in our recent blog post, smaller groups can also significantly enhance the impact and effectiveness of learning experiences. Whether you're utilising breakout rooms or dedicated platforms like Makeshapes designed for small group learning, this sense of intimacy fosters a safer environment where participants often feel more comfortable engaging deeply and sharing openly, ultimately leading to a more transformative experience.
A few extra tips for virtual and hybrid environments
Virtual and hybrid learning environments present unique challenges and opportunities for fostering psychological safety. Here are a few additional tips to consider:
- Cameras on: Encourage participants to turn their cameras on during video calls to enhance presence, connection, and non-verbal communication. While acknowledging that individual circumstances may sometimes require cameras to be off, explain that having them on generally fosters a more engaging, personal learning experience and strengthens the sense of community.
- Hand raising tools: Utilise the hand-raising feature in virtual meeting tools to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute, especially in larger groups. This structured approach prevents interruptions and allows quieter voices to be heard, promoting a more inclusive and equitable learning environment.
- Limit side discussions: Encourage participants to direct all comments and questions to the entire group, ensuring everyone feels included and heard. This is especially important in hybrid environments, where side conversations can easily exclude remote participants and create a sense of unequal access. Using shared microphones and displays can help ensure everyone, both in-person and virtual, can fully participate.
At Makeshapes, we've designed our platform to enable impactful group learning experiences that don't require skilled facilitators. This means anyone—from trainers to team leaders—can create and deliver engaging sessions that foster psychological safety and shared growth, regardless of participant location, language, or ability.
With Makeshapes, you can easily facilitate transformative group learning at scale. Contact us today to learn more about how Makeshapes can help you reimagine group learning and create truly impactful experiences for your organisation.
challenge
solution
Designing for psychological safety in group learning
At Makeshapes, we're passionate about the power of group learning. We believe that when people learn together, they learn more deeply, retain information better, and are more likely to apply their new knowledge and skills in the real world. However, for group learning to be truly effective, it's crucial to create a psychologically-safe environment.
The concept of team psychological safety was pioneered by Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson, who defines it as a "shared belief held by members of a team that the team is safe for interpersonal risk taking." It creates a climate where people feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas, asking questions, and even admitting when they don't know something, without fear of judgement or negative consequences. In the context of group learning, psychological safety is paramount for creating an environment conducive to active participation, knowledge sharing, and ultimately, impactful learning outcomes.
Let’s explore practical ways to design for psychological safety in both virtual and in-person group learning environments, ensuring all participants feel welcomed, included, and empowered to contribute. We’ll delve into the crucial elements that foster a safe and enriching environment, leveraging the insights we've gathered from delivering impactful group experiences to thousands of participants across various industries and cultures.
Why psychological safety matters
Before diving into the practical tips, let’s reiterate why psychological safety is so vital. When individuals feel safe, they are more likely to:
- Actively participate: Contributing to discussions, sharing experiences, and asking questions are key to social learning. A safe space encourages this active participation, allowing for a richer and more dynamic learning experience.
- Take risks: Learning often involves stepping outside of one's comfort zone and trying new things. In a psychologically safe environment, participants feel empowered to take these risks, experiment with new ideas, and push their boundaries without fear of failure.
- Learn from mistakes: Mistakes are inevitable in any learning process. A safe environment allows participants to view mistakes as learning opportunities, promoting reflection and growth without shame or embarrassment.
- Share diverse perspectives: Innovation and problem-solving thrive on diverse viewpoints. When individuals feel safe, they are more likely to share their unique perspectives, enriching the learning experience for everyone involved.
Practical tips for designing psychologically safe group learning
Here are some actionable strategies to create a psychologically safe environment in your group learning experiences:
- Establish shared agreements: Start by co-creating ground rules with the group. These agreements should outline expectations for respectful communication, active listening, and confidentiality. This shared understanding fosters a sense of ownership and accountability within the group. Examples of shared agreements might include:
- Respecting diverse opinions and perspectives.
- Ensuring equal opportunity for all participants to be heard.
- Encouraging active listening over debate.
- Maintaining confidentiality with sensitive information shared within the group.
- Connection before content: It's important to help participants connect as fellow humans, be it breaking the ice, or helping to set the tone. Either way, intentional activities to drive connection can be a great way to help people get to know each other, align around the purpose, and celebrate the diversity of views in the group.
- Be thoughtful about how people can engage: Recognise that not everyone is comfortable speaking up in a group setting. Offer diverse modes to contribute, such as individual reflection, group brainstorming (like post-its), or creative exercises like drawing. Activities that invite the whole group to have a voice while not just relying on discussion where the loudest voices can often dominate.
- Anonymity as a tool: Offering opportunities for anonymous participation can be incredibly powerful in fostering psychological safety. When learners can contribute without fear of judgement or being singled out, they're more likely to share honest thoughts and perspectives. This can lead to richer discussions, deeper insights, and more effective learning outcomes. Digital tools can be particularly powerful in supporting anonymity. With Makeshapes, for example, activities can be designed to display no names or avatars, ensuring responses remain completely anonymous. To further encourage vulnerability, we delay the display of responses until a certain number has been submitted. This prevents individuals from feeling exposed or singled out for their initial contributions.
- Smaller groups can feel safer: More intimate, smaller learning environments foster a greater sense of connection and encourage more active participation, especially compared to traditional facilitated sessions with 15+ learners. As explored in our recent blog post, smaller groups can also significantly enhance the impact and effectiveness of learning experiences. Whether you're utilising breakout rooms or dedicated platforms like Makeshapes designed for small group learning, this sense of intimacy fosters a safer environment where participants often feel more comfortable engaging deeply and sharing openly, ultimately leading to a more transformative experience.
A few extra tips for virtual and hybrid environments
Virtual and hybrid learning environments present unique challenges and opportunities for fostering psychological safety. Here are a few additional tips to consider:
- Cameras on: Encourage participants to turn their cameras on during video calls to enhance presence, connection, and non-verbal communication. While acknowledging that individual circumstances may sometimes require cameras to be off, explain that having them on generally fosters a more engaging, personal learning experience and strengthens the sense of community.
- Hand raising tools: Utilise the hand-raising feature in virtual meeting tools to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute, especially in larger groups. This structured approach prevents interruptions and allows quieter voices to be heard, promoting a more inclusive and equitable learning environment.
- Limit side discussions: Encourage participants to direct all comments and questions to the entire group, ensuring everyone feels included and heard. This is especially important in hybrid environments, where side conversations can easily exclude remote participants and create a sense of unequal access. Using shared microphones and displays can help ensure everyone, both in-person and virtual, can fully participate.
At Makeshapes, we've designed our platform to enable impactful group learning experiences that don't require skilled facilitators. This means anyone—from trainers to team leaders—can create and deliver engaging sessions that foster psychological safety and shared growth, regardless of participant location, language, or ability.
With Makeshapes, you can easily facilitate transformative group learning at scale. Contact us today to learn more about how Makeshapes can help you reimagine group learning and create truly impactful experiences for your organisation.
challenge
solution
Designing for psychological safety in group learning
At Makeshapes, we're passionate about the power of group learning. We believe that when people learn together, they learn more deeply, retain information better, and are more likely to apply their new knowledge and skills in the real world. However, for group learning to be truly effective, it's crucial to create a psychologically-safe environment.
The concept of team psychological safety was pioneered by Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson, who defines it as a "shared belief held by members of a team that the team is safe for interpersonal risk taking." It creates a climate where people feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas, asking questions, and even admitting when they don't know something, without fear of judgement or negative consequences. In the context of group learning, psychological safety is paramount for creating an environment conducive to active participation, knowledge sharing, and ultimately, impactful learning outcomes.
Let’s explore practical ways to design for psychological safety in both virtual and in-person group learning environments, ensuring all participants feel welcomed, included, and empowered to contribute. We’ll delve into the crucial elements that foster a safe and enriching environment, leveraging the insights we've gathered from delivering impactful group experiences to thousands of participants across various industries and cultures.
Why psychological safety matters
Before diving into the practical tips, let’s reiterate why psychological safety is so vital. When individuals feel safe, they are more likely to:
- Actively participate: Contributing to discussions, sharing experiences, and asking questions are key to social learning. A safe space encourages this active participation, allowing for a richer and more dynamic learning experience.
- Take risks: Learning often involves stepping outside of one's comfort zone and trying new things. In a psychologically safe environment, participants feel empowered to take these risks, experiment with new ideas, and push their boundaries without fear of failure.
- Learn from mistakes: Mistakes are inevitable in any learning process. A safe environment allows participants to view mistakes as learning opportunities, promoting reflection and growth without shame or embarrassment.
- Share diverse perspectives: Innovation and problem-solving thrive on diverse viewpoints. When individuals feel safe, they are more likely to share their unique perspectives, enriching the learning experience for everyone involved.
Practical tips for designing psychologically safe group learning
Here are some actionable strategies to create a psychologically safe environment in your group learning experiences:
- Establish shared agreements: Start by co-creating ground rules with the group. These agreements should outline expectations for respectful communication, active listening, and confidentiality. This shared understanding fosters a sense of ownership and accountability within the group. Examples of shared agreements might include:
- Respecting diverse opinions and perspectives.
- Ensuring equal opportunity for all participants to be heard.
- Encouraging active listening over debate.
- Maintaining confidentiality with sensitive information shared within the group.
- Connection before content: It's important to help participants connect as fellow humans, be it breaking the ice, or helping to set the tone. Either way, intentional activities to drive connection can be a great way to help people get to know each other, align around the purpose, and celebrate the diversity of views in the group.
- Be thoughtful about how people can engage: Recognise that not everyone is comfortable speaking up in a group setting. Offer diverse modes to contribute, such as individual reflection, group brainstorming (like post-its), or creative exercises like drawing. Activities that invite the whole group to have a voice while not just relying on discussion where the loudest voices can often dominate.
- Anonymity as a tool: Offering opportunities for anonymous participation can be incredibly powerful in fostering psychological safety. When learners can contribute without fear of judgement or being singled out, they're more likely to share honest thoughts and perspectives. This can lead to richer discussions, deeper insights, and more effective learning outcomes. Digital tools can be particularly powerful in supporting anonymity. With Makeshapes, for example, activities can be designed to display no names or avatars, ensuring responses remain completely anonymous. To further encourage vulnerability, we delay the display of responses until a certain number has been submitted. This prevents individuals from feeling exposed or singled out for their initial contributions.
- Smaller groups can feel safer: More intimate, smaller learning environments foster a greater sense of connection and encourage more active participation, especially compared to traditional facilitated sessions with 15+ learners. As explored in our recent blog post, smaller groups can also significantly enhance the impact and effectiveness of learning experiences. Whether you're utilising breakout rooms or dedicated platforms like Makeshapes designed for small group learning, this sense of intimacy fosters a safer environment where participants often feel more comfortable engaging deeply and sharing openly, ultimately leading to a more transformative experience.
A few extra tips for virtual and hybrid environments
Virtual and hybrid learning environments present unique challenges and opportunities for fostering psychological safety. Here are a few additional tips to consider:
- Cameras on: Encourage participants to turn their cameras on during video calls to enhance presence, connection, and non-verbal communication. While acknowledging that individual circumstances may sometimes require cameras to be off, explain that having them on generally fosters a more engaging, personal learning experience and strengthens the sense of community.
- Hand raising tools: Utilise the hand-raising feature in virtual meeting tools to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute, especially in larger groups. This structured approach prevents interruptions and allows quieter voices to be heard, promoting a more inclusive and equitable learning environment.
- Limit side discussions: Encourage participants to direct all comments and questions to the entire group, ensuring everyone feels included and heard. This is especially important in hybrid environments, where side conversations can easily exclude remote participants and create a sense of unequal access. Using shared microphones and displays can help ensure everyone, both in-person and virtual, can fully participate.
At Makeshapes, we've designed our platform to enable impactful group learning experiences that don't require skilled facilitators. This means anyone—from trainers to team leaders—can create and deliver engaging sessions that foster psychological safety and shared growth, regardless of participant location, language, or ability.
With Makeshapes, you can easily facilitate transformative group learning at scale. Contact us today to learn more about how Makeshapes can help you reimagine group learning and create truly impactful experiences for your organisation.