Positive communication skills with Medik8
After working with Medik8 on some Growth Mindset sessions earlier this year (with the fab Victoria Maitland) Laura Drury was asked to follow up and embed the learning with sessions on ‘Positive Safety and Positive Communication’; looking at positive communication skills through the lens of psychological safety.
For people to work together to the best of their ability, regardless of what work they’re doing, psychological safety is crucial. In Amy Edmondson’s words this is “the belief that one will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes, and the team is safe for interpersonal risk taking.”
Not only is it essential to work productively and creatively, but it is also necessary to support mental wellbeing as it promotes trust (through working in a culture free of fear which exacerbates stress) and allows people to fulfil their potential and be recognised for their contributions. Psychological safety is the foundation required to effectively foster a growth mindset and communicate openly and honestly. Hence why we were invited back to Medik8.
Awareness is key to understanding what needs to happen, so Laura encouraged everyone to explore the behaviours required to create a culture of psychological safety, then, consider what was already being done well and what else could be done more/differently.
Of course, there were also the usual fun activities expected from a Laughology session to create a positive environment and make the learning sticky. Fun and humour are also extremely positive tools to use when emotions have the potential of running high, as the inevitable laughter that follows releases a neurochemical cocktail of feel-good hormones, including oxytocin, which is responsible for social connection and building trust.
Humour also enables someone to reflect on a situation from an entirely different perspective and encourage them to challenge their own, or someone else’s belief(s), in a way that can avoid confrontation or upset.
If you’d like to find out more about how to create a culture of psychological safety in your organisation contact Doug to find out more about our sessions – doug@laughology.co.uk
