We live in a time when the world is facing only the worst pandemic it has ever witnessed that has taken a toll on every individual's mental health. Consequently, it has become ever important for organizations to build psychological safety for their teams. Every individual can voice opinions, learn from intelligent failures, and have mutual respect for colleagues. This talk shares the story of a Product Manager who experienced stress at work and then found out that Amy Edmonson had her research on Psychological Safety for teams. The PM also shared why it is important to build psychological safety with studies conducted and how individuals can start to make an effort and build more trust around their teams. Read more on my blog - www.theabhinavg.com or reach out to me at abhinav@theabhinavg.com

1. Psychological
Safety for
Teams in
VUCA World
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2. About me
Coming from a business background, entered professional
career with a startup progressing from a business analyst
through product owner and now product manager
#familyguy
#productmanager
#travel #music
#people #process
#products
theabhinavg.com
@theabhinavg / theabhinavg.com ©
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Helped startups to fortune 500 companies in productizing
ideas across multiple domains like eCommerce, Video,
Telecom, BFSI & MarTech
Contributed in digital transformation and processes
management that deliver wins for product teams and value to
the customers fostering safe and smart work practices

3. What we will
cover…
What is Psychological
Safety?
01
Why is it important for me
and my team?
Methods to develop
Psychological Safety
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V U C A
Volatile Uncertain Complex Ambiguous

6. Story of a Product Manager
The team was building exciting new products while the organization
expanded 2x in revenues and headcount, and then…THE WORLD CHANGED!
Covid head-butted the bullish run, and Management had to take a hard stop.
Due to budget control, the time was so uncertain and complex that they
decided to lay off a few and break the office premises lease.
The Product Manager is expected to deliver 3X to maintain existing clients
while creating newer features to catch fresh fish in the pond (previously
was a lake) when the team is demotivated and confused about what has
happened or could happen.
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7. Challenges
How will a CXO even think about
taking steps necessary to build
psychological safety for their
teams when they doubt surviving
the VUCA world hit by the worst
pandemic ever.
A manager has to deal with
pushback from the Management to
ensure high output from teams
to maximize profits in an
already competitive business
space now confronted by new
hurdles.
Individuals have to ensure
safety for themselves and their
family while safeguarding a job
that keeps paying to pull
through the VUCA times.
01 02 03

8. Amy Edmonson
the knight in shining armor
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Read more: Amy’s Research Paper

9. Psychological Safety Vs
Motivation/Accountability
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Resource: Amy’s Ted Talk

10. Will it work?
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11. The Gallup Research
More engaged employees can
lead to a 12% increase in
productivity
Read more: Gallup Research
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12. So, what is
Psychological
Safety?
01
Image Credits: Designed by Freepik
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13. It describes a team climate characterized by
interpersonal trust and mutual respect in which people
are comfortable being themselves.
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14. It describes a team climate characterized by
interpersonal trust and mutual respect in which people
are comfortable being themselves.
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15. Story of Bob Chapman
Bob Chapman is the CEO of Barry-Wehmiller Companies, Inc since a
significant manufacturing company. The company lost 30% of its order
overnight, during the market crash of 2008.
To save 10 million dollars, the board gathered to decide on lay off; what
happened next was what nobody could have imagined.
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16. Why is it
important for me
and my team?
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Image Credits: Designed by Freepik
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17. Scenario - 1
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18. Scenario - 2
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19. Impression Management
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20. Project Aristotle at
Google
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They spent two years studying about
180 different teams, measuring them
on five metrics
Good teams have equality in the
distribution of conversational turn-
taking
Higher average social sensitivity
measured via Reading the Mind in the
Eyes test
Read more: re:work with Google
Bonus resource: NY Times Article
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21. Individual
level
01
02
03
Boosts confidence and
engagement by giving voice to
members
Develops a culture of learning
with knowledge sharing
behavior
Cultivates innovation by
fostering creative freedom
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22. Organizational
level
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Higher productivity owing to
trust among peers and leaders
Improved decision quality with
unwrinkled conflict resolutions
Achieve competitive advantage
through inventiveness
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23. Methods to
develop
Psychological
Safety
03
Image Credits: Designed by pch.vector / Freepik
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24. Individual
level
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Listen to one another and have
a no interruption rule
Accept mistakes, applaud
success and appreciate failures
Practice Reflective Teaching
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25. The Gallup Research
Start with four simple
questions to your team:
1. What can we count on each other for?
2. What is our team's purpose?
3. What is the reputation we aspire to have?
4. What do we need to do differently to achieve
that reputation and fulfill our purpose?
Read more: Gallup Research
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26. Organizational
level
01
02
03
Designate a Mental Health Day
when an employee is encouraged
to discuss mental health
Foster a culture of constant
learning motivating new ideas
Reward group performances and
not just the super-chickens
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27. Super-chicken Model
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William Muir from Purdue university
grouped highly fertile chickens
(super-chickens) and group of
average chickens
Two years later, average chickens
gave continued good produce while
only three survived in super-chicken
group
Choosing superman or superwoman in a
team could create harmful
competition – Dwech Research
Read more: Super-chicken Model
Bonus Resource: Margaret Heffernan TED Talk
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28. Some examples
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Infosys - in India has created a
farm on its campus where employees
participate in growing vegetables
and fruits minting social currency
Having synchronized coffee breaks
(also called Fika) lead to increase
of 50 Million USD in profits
Adobe gives their employees a
“global day-off” to rejuvenate and
spend time with the family
Resources: Infosys Greenscapes
Fika
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29. Story of Col Babu
June 2020, Col Babu laid down his life to hold the post giving time for
Indian troops to reinforce their position during the enemy skirmish
attack. There is no more VUCA environment than on a battlefield.
But why do we always see military ready to sacrifice for their peers? It
is patriotism and high regard for public service. What else could it be?
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30. “In the end, words like Psychological Safety is all business jargon
replacing the actual requirement, which is Love & Friendship between your
team members, and that is what all matters.”
Richard Kasperowski
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Resources: Richard’s Talk

31. Questions?
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32. Thank you
for your time!
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/theabhinavg
@theabhinavg
abhinav@theabhinavg.com
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