The Independence Hub’s Post

Why is psychological safety so incredibly crucial when neurodiversity is thrown into the mix? Let's have some REAL talk. It's tough to unmask after a lifetime of trying to hide your differences, especially if there are various layers to these differences which impact your nervous system. But not opening up about a big part of who you are can feel incredibly lonely. The presence of a safe space and supportive manager and colleague(s) trained in neurodiversity can support their neurodivergent colleagues to open up and ask for support.   According to Harvard Business Review, psychological safety is “a shared belief held by members of a team that it’s OK to take risks, to express their ideas and concerns, to speak up with questions, and to admit mistakes — all without fear of negative consequences.”   When we consider neurodiverse experiences, here's why it's important to model psychological safety in your team:   💝 Open dialogue in a safe environment encourages everyone to express their unique perspectives, needs and challenges without fear of being judged or mocked.   💝 Psychological safety fuels employee growth. ND employees might need specific adjustments or working approaches. Empathy hugely comes into play, too. When colleagues and leaders become empathetic allies, the challenges ND team members face are considered. And there is no underestimating how comforting this is, and how it helps foster a culture of belonging and trust.   Thanks to the heightened occurrence of additional mental health challenges, ND team members particularly benefit from employee well-being initiatives in the workplace.   Psychological safety becomes a nurturing ground for all talents, regardless of their neurodiverse experiences. If you need support to create a team built on psychological safety, contact me and let’s chat.   #PsychologicalSafety #NeuroInclusion #Intersectionality #DiversityEquityInclusion