Session Abstract: We talk about safety when there is a need to be safe from a threat. In this session, we would explore the idea of safety - from what causes a threat to the teams. Session Key Takeaways 1. Understanding of potential causes for threat in teams 2. Understanding ways to address these threats 3. Psychological contracts as a tool to address safety.

1. z
Psychological
safety – What is
the threat?
Deepak Dhananjaya, Agile coach and Leadership
coach
Co-founder, AgileSattva Consulting LLP.

2. z
Think of a situation – where you felt
UNSAFE
§ What was the danger?
§ Who was causing the danger?
§ Why were you feeling unsafe?

3. z
Think of a situation – where you felt
SAFE
§ Why was it safe?
§ Who was in that situation?
§ What about this person/people involved was feeling of safety for
you?

4. z
Psychological distance
This is the perceived distance in terms of relationship, that exists between the parties.

5. z
Now… on a paper draw...
§ Yourself
§ The person/ people involved in the situation that felt UNSAFE
§ The person/people involved in the situation that felt SAFE
Example:
ME
ABC
DEF

6. z
Some of the root causes of feeling
unsafe:
§ Lack of trust
§ Lack of open communication
§ Gossips
§ Judgements
§ Use of positional power irrationally
§ Assumptions
§ Misunderstandings

7. z
What we see.. Is just the
actions/behaviors
Feelings
Attitudes
Beliefs
Values
Ethics
Conditioning
Experiences
Feelings
Attitudes
Beliefs
Values
Ethics
Conditioning
Experiences
ME Other person
What we say and do
What makes us say and act the way we do

8. z
We want to
understand at
this level
Feelings
Attitudes
Beliefs
Values
Ethics
Conditioning
Experiences
Feelings
Attitudes
Beliefs
Values
Ethics
Conditioning
Experiences
ME Other person
What we say and do
What makes us say and act the way we do
We judge others by their behaviors and ourselves by intent

9. z
Psychological contracts
It’s a way of establishing trust and connecting authentically
§ Validate your assumption:
§ When you behave like this, I assume it is _________, is it right? If not what is the reason for your
behavior.
§ Clarify your behavior:
§ When I behave this way, I intend _____________ and nothing else, please clarify if you feel
other way.
§ Feedback loop:
§ When you do/say this, It impacts me like this ___________

10. z
Psychological contracts help in building
§ Authentic connections
§ Respect
§ Trust
§ Reduces psychological distances.

11. z
Go back to the situation you felt
UNSAFE
§ What would you do differently if it repeats again?

12. z
Q&A
Reading material : http://www.saata.org/wp-
content/uploads/2020/07/SAJTA-Volume-6-Number-2-Jul-
2020.pdf#page=48
Write to deepak@agilesattva.com if you have questions.