{"id":14173,"date":"2025-06-12T11:52:35","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T15:52:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/?p=14173"},"modified":"2025-06-12T11:54:11","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T15:54:11","slug":"psychological-safety-cant-flourish-silence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/psychological-safety-cant-flourish-silence\/","title":{"rendered":"Psychological Safety Can\u2019t Flourish in Silence"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><button id=\"listenButton1\" class=\"responsivevoice-button\" type=\"button\" value=\"Play\" title=\"ResponsiveVoice Tap to Start\/Stop Speech\"><span>&#128266; Listen to this article<\/span><\/button>\n        <script>\n            listenButton1.onclick = function(){\n                if(responsiveVoice.isPlaying()){\n                    responsiveVoice.cancel();\n                }else{\n                    responsiveVoice.speak(\"Elaine Lin Hering explains how speaking up, despite the risks, can break barriers and unleash talent In organizations worldwide, psychological safety is one of the strongest predictors of team performance, productivity, and innovation. Yet despite growing awareness of its power, psychological safety at work is still uncommon.\u00a0 In a 2024 Deloitte survey of U.S. workers, only half said their team leaders foster psychological safety. Those findings echo a study from Southeast Asia, where 45% of employees said their workplaces lacked psychological safety.\u00a0\u00a0 Without psychological safety, employees hesitate to speak up, not because they lack courage, but because the perceived risks of doing so\u2014judgment, exclusion, even retaliation\u2014often outweigh the benefits. True psychological safety demands a shift in mindset, culture, and daily interactions.\u00a0\u00a0 Elaine Lin Hering, author of Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent, and Live More Fully, spoke with Jackie Ferguson, host of the acclaimed podcast Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox, about what it takes to build psychological safety in the workplace. A negotiation expert and former Harvard Law School lecturer, Hering has helped people around the world develop the skills to communicate across difference and speak up with confidence.\u00a0\u00a0 Jackie Ferguson: What inspired you to focus on communication, collaboration, and conflict management?\u00a0 Elaine Lin Hering: This journey started as one of personal pain. I grew up in a family where we didn\\'t talk about things. We swept the issues under the rug. Kept the peace on the surface. Everything was fine. Except we all know it\\'s not.\u00a0 I went to Harvard Law School intending to be a litigator, but came across a classic negotiation book, \u201cGetting to Yes: Interest-Based Negotiation.\u201d It was this lightbulb moment of, \u2018Wait, we can actually talk about things?\u2019 I learned a very expensive lesson in law school: emotions are a thing, and we can talk about them. We could navigate through conflict, and it could actually be productive.\u00a0\u00a0 Jackie: You talk about unlearning silence. Where should people start?\u00a0 Elaine: I start with the mindset that if we are human, then we have needs, goals, hopes, and concerns. It doesn\\'t make you needy. It doesn\\'t mean that you\\'re taking up too much space. It doesn\\'t mean that you don\\'t care about other people. It just means that you are human.\u00a0 But for many people, especially women, there is so much noise. You are supposed to be unflappable, unwavering in your caregiving, and it\\'s all got to look like an Instagram reel. In those expectations, there is very little room for \u2018What do I need. What do I want?\u2019 We spend all this time taking care of everyone else\\'s needs; we don\u2019t know what our own needs are. Not that they\u2019re not there, but they can get buried under layers of patterns and expectations.\u00a0\u00a0 To me, the unlearning part is the excavation. To notice what has become unconscious habit, bring it into the consciousness to wrestle with it, and say, \u201cIs this how I want to live?\u201d If not, we have the opportunity to choose a different way. And a very tactical way is to ask yourself two questions: What do I think? What do I need?\u00a0 Jackie: And once we know that, how do we communicate it to others?\u00a0 Elaine: I\\'d start with experimentation, particularly if you haven\u2019t been used to making those asks, making your needs known. If Jackie has always been go-with-the-flow, saying that you have needs\u2014which makes sense, because you\u2019re human\u2014means other people need to adjust. You can expect some friction.\u00a0 Jackie: What are the benefits of doing this work\u2014even though it\u2019s uncomfortable?\u00a0 Elaine: Our brains focus on the discomfort and embedded in that is fear and uncertainty. What our brains don\\'t do is the second part of the analysis: what are the possible benefits? I might anticipate that other people are going to react negatively, but what if they said, \u2018Yes, of course we want to support you. We just didn\\'t know how. Thank you for giving us something concrete to do.\u2019 Our brains don\\'t go there.\u00a0\u00a0 We also have an opportunity to make it better for everyone else. If we listened to each other\u2014actually considered each other\u2014even if the other person sounds different, says something we never would have thought of, we can lower the risks and the costs for someone else sharing what they really think. That is the power we each have.\u00a0 There are costs, but there are also benefits. There is the benefit of being seen, known, and heard\u2014even celebrated. There is the benefit of living in alignment with who you are. And then there\u2019s the broader impact of co-creating a world in which each of us gets to thrive. We\u2019re creating that space and creating new norms of being who we actually are versus who we\u2019re expected to be.\u00a0 Jackie: What prevents people from reaching their full potential at work?\u00a0 Elaine: I always go back to mindsets, because your mindset drives your actions and behaviors, which drive results.\u00a0 One pitfall is assuming that you don\u2019t have power. That belief often comes from experience. You said something and it didn\u2019t go well. You spoke up and got shut down, excluded, or penalized. So, you stop. You conclude that your voice doesn\u2019t matter.\u00a0 As human beings, we focus on the power we don\u2019t have rather than the power we do have. But we each have the ability to profoundly change how other people experience work and life. If we all knew that when we spoke up, someone would hear us, appreciate us, recognize that we took the risk to do it\u2014how much more likely would we be to use our voice?\u00a0 We can create psychological safety for others based on how we respond. Instead of saying, \u201cJackie, what the hell are you talking about?\u201d say, \u201cI\u2019ve never thought about that. Thanks for sharing. Can you say more so I can wrap my head around it?\u201d That\u2019s power. That\u2019s culture shaping.\u00a0 On the flip side, the biggest pitfall I see with leaders is underestimating how hard it is for others to speak up. If you\u2019ve never struggled to have your voice heard, if you\u2019ve always been welcomed in the room, it\u2019s easy to say, \u201cJust speak up.\u201d But not everyone is you. We are not equally situated. We have different experiences, identities, and levels of psychological safety. Leaders must recognize that\u2014and design communication and collaboration in ways that account for difference, not ignore it.\u00a0 Jackie: What do you hope the future looks like?\u00a0 Elaine: What I imagine and what I work toward is work environments, communities, and a world in which belonging, dignity, and justice are true for every human being rather than just a select few.\u00a0\u00a0 For the complete conversation with Elaine Lin Hering, listen to \u201cUnlearning Silence: Embracing Authenticity and Unleashing Talent in the Workplace\u201d on the Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox podcast. To learn more about psychological safety and how your organization can identify and remove barriers to team cohesion and performance, visit our Psychological Safety Resource Hub.\u00a0\", \"US English Male\");\n                }\n            };\n        <\/script>\n    <\/br><\/p>\n<h2>Elaine Lin Hering explains how speaking up, despite the risks, can break barriers and unleash talent<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In organizations worldwide, psychological safety is one of the strongest predictors of team performance, productivity, and innovation. Yet despite growing awareness of its power, psychological safety at work is still uncommon.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.deloitte.com\/us\/en\/insights\/topics\/talent\/identity-covering-could-be-undermining-workplace-well-being-efforts.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">2024 Deloitte survey<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> of U.S. workers, only half said their team leaders foster psychological safety. Those findings echo a study from Southeast Asia, where <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/1366558\/sea-satisfaction-with-workplace-psychological-safety\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">45% of employees<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> said their workplaces lacked psychological safety.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Without psychological safety, employees hesitate to speak up, not because they lack courage, but because the perceived risks of doing so\u2014judgment, exclusion, even retaliation\u2014often outweigh the benefits. True psychological safety demands a shift in mindset, culture, and daily interactions.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-14174 alignleft lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Elaine-Lin-Hering-4-Photo-Credit-Cat-Coppenrath-scaled-1-200x300.webp\" alt=\"Headshot of Elaine\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Elaine-Lin-Hering-4-Photo-Credit-Cat-Coppenrath-scaled-1-200x300.webp 200w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Elaine-Lin-Hering-4-Photo-Credit-Cat-Coppenrath-scaled-1-683x1024.webp 683w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Elaine-Lin-Hering-4-Photo-Credit-Cat-Coppenrath-scaled-1-768x1152.webp 768w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Elaine-Lin-Hering-4-Photo-Credit-Cat-Coppenrath-scaled-1-1024x1536.webp 1024w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Elaine-Lin-Hering-4-Photo-Credit-Cat-Coppenrath-scaled-1-1366x2048.webp 1366w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Elaine-Lin-Hering-4-Photo-Credit-Cat-Coppenrath-scaled-1-600x900.webp 600w, https:\/\/thediversitymovement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Elaine-Lin-Hering-4-Photo-Credit-Cat-Coppenrath-scaled-1.webp 1707w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 200\/300;\" \/>Elaine Lin Hering, author of <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent, and Live More Fully<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, spoke with Jackie Ferguson, host of the acclaimed podcast <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, about what it takes to build psychological safety in the workplace. A negotiation expert and former Harvard Law School lecturer, Hering has helped people around the world develop the skills to communicate across difference and speak up with confidence.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Jackie Ferguson:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> What inspired you to focus on communication, collaboration, and conflict management?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Elaine Lin Hering:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> This journey started as one of personal pain. I grew up in a family where we didn&#8217;t talk about things. We swept the issues under the rug. Kept the peace on the surface. Everything was fine. Except we all know it&#8217;s not.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I went to Harvard Law School intending to be a litigator, but came across a classic negotiation book, \u201c<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Getting to Yes: Interest-Based Negotiation<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u201d It was this lightbulb moment of, \u2018Wait, we can actually talk about things?\u2019 I learned a very expensive lesson in law school: emotions are a thing, and we can talk about them. We could navigate through conflict, and it could actually be productive.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Jackie:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> You talk about unlearning silence. Where should people start?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Elaine:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> I start with the mindset that if we are human, then we have needs, goals, hopes, and concerns. It doesn&#8217;t make you needy. It doesn&#8217;t mean that you&#8217;re taking up too much space. It doesn&#8217;t mean that you don&#8217;t care about other people. It just means that you are human.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">But for many people, especially women, there is so much noise. You are supposed to be unflappable, unwavering in your caregiving, and it&#8217;s all got to look like an Instagram reel. In those expectations, there is very little room for \u2018What do I need. What do I want?\u2019 We spend all this time taking care of everyone else&#8217;s needs; we don\u2019t know what our own needs are. Not that they\u2019re not there, but they can get buried under layers of patterns and expectations.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">To me, the unlearning part is the excavation. To notice what has become unconscious habit, bring it into the consciousness to wrestle with it, and say, \u201cIs this how I want to live?\u201d If not, we have the opportunity to choose a different way. And a very tactical way is to ask yourself two questions: What do I think? What do I need?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Jackie:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> And once we know that, how do we communicate it to others?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Elaine:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> I&#8217;d start with experimentation, particularly if you haven\u2019t been used to making those asks, making your needs known. If Jackie has always been go-with-the-flow, saying that you have needs\u2014which makes sense, because you\u2019re human\u2014means other people need to adjust. You can expect some friction.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Jackie:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> What are the benefits of doing this work\u2014even though it\u2019s uncomfortable?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Elaine:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Our brains focus on the discomfort and embedded in that is fear and uncertainty. What our brains don&#8217;t do is the second part of the analysis: what are the possible benefits? I might anticipate that other people are going to react negatively, but what if they said, \u2018Yes, of course we want to support you. We just didn&#8217;t know how. Thank you for giving us something concrete to do.\u2019 Our brains don&#8217;t go there.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We also have an opportunity to make it better for everyone else. If we listened to each other\u2014actually considered each other\u2014even if the other person sounds different, says something we never would have thought of, we can lower the risks and the costs for someone else sharing what they really think. That is the power we each have.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">There are costs, but there are also benefits. There is the benefit of being seen, known, and heard\u2014even celebrated. There is the benefit of living in alignment with who you are. And then there\u2019s the broader impact of co-creating a world in which each of us gets to thrive. We\u2019re creating that space and creating new norms of being who we actually are versus who we\u2019re expected to be.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Jackie:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> What prevents people from reaching their full potential at work?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Elaine:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> I always go back to mindsets, because your mindset drives your actions and behaviors, which drive results.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">One pitfall is assuming that you don\u2019t have power. That belief often comes from experience. You said something and it didn\u2019t go well. You spoke up and got shut down, excluded, or penalized. So, you stop. You conclude that your voice doesn\u2019t matter.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As human beings, we focus on the power we don\u2019t have rather than the power we do have. But we each have the ability to profoundly change how other people experience work and life. If we all knew that when we spoke up, someone would hear us, appreciate us, recognize that we took the risk to do it\u2014how much more likely would we be to use our voice?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We can create psychological safety for others based on how we respond. Instead of saying, \u201cJackie, what the hell are you talking about?\u201d say, \u201cI\u2019ve never thought about that. Thanks for sharing. Can you say more so I can wrap my head around it?\u201d That\u2019s power. That\u2019s culture shaping.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">On the flip side, the biggest pitfall I see with leaders is underestimating how hard it is for others to speak up. If you\u2019ve never struggled to have your voice heard, if you\u2019ve always been welcomed in the room, it\u2019s easy to say, \u201cJust speak up.\u201d But not everyone is you. We are not equally situated. We have different experiences, identities, and levels of psychological safety. Leaders must recognize that\u2014and design communication and collaboration in ways that account for difference, not ignore it.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Jackie:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> What do you hope the future looks like?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Elaine:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> What I imagine and what I work toward is work environments, communities, and a world in which belonging, dignity, and justice are true for every human being rather than just a select few.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>For the complete conversation with Elaine Lin Hering, listen to \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/beyondthecheckbox.com\/unlearning-silence-embracing-authenticity-and-unleashing-talent-in-the-workplace-w-elaine-lin-hering\/\">Unlearning Silence: Embracing Authenticity and Unleashing Talent in the Workplace<\/a>\u201d on the Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox podcast. To learn more about psychological safety and how your organization can identify and remove barriers to team cohesion and performance, visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/psychsafety.workplaceoptions.com\/\">Psychological Safety Resource Hub<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Elaine Lin Hering explains how speaking up, despite the risks, can break barriers and unleash talent In organizations worldwide, psychological safety is one of the strongest predictors of team performance,15<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":14080,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[72,79],"tdm_type":[92],"class_list":["post-14173","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-employee-experience-organizational-culture","tag-mental-health-wellness","tag-personal-stories","tdm_type-articles"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How Unlearning Silence Helps Build Psychological Safety<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Elaine Lin Hering explains how speaking up, despite the risks, can break barriers, shift culture, and unlock the full potential of people at work.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, 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