What Is Psychological Safety?
“Psychological safety in the workplace means that every individual in the organisation feels safe and confident to bring their authentic selves to work. Communication with crystal-clear clarity is a top priority and the work environment is intentionally designed to facilitate exceptional collaboration and teamwork, promoting a deep sense of belonging where everyone in the team can thrive. Regular opportunities for reflection and creative exploration empower individuals to fully utilise their unique talents and perspectives, resulting in increased innovation and enhanced problem-solving capabilities.
Ultimately, psychological safety creates a work environment where both individuals and teams can thrive and achieve their full potential."
- Gina Battye's definition of Psychological Safety

The 5 Pillars of Psychological Safety
Gina Battye created the blueprint for psychological safety: The 5 Pillars of Psychological Safety.
These are principles and teachings that are applicable to workplaces and their people around the globe, whether working in an office or online.
They provide practical support for individuals and teams to empower everyone to bring their whole self to work.
When you have a psychologically safe environment and people feel safe to bring their whole self to work, people communicate and collaborate effectively and a culture of curiosity and creativity is cultivated.
You have happier, healthier and more engaged employees, which increases innovation, productivity and turnover!
The 5 Pillars of Psychological Safety are being used around the world to create fully inclusive workplaces.
In essence, they cultivate an environment where people (and businesses) thrive.



































The 5 Pillars in Detail
Pillars 1, 2 and 3 are critical components in cultivating an inclusive and thriving workplace that empowers both individuals and teams to reach their full potential. By prioritising authenticity, effective communication and creating a supportive environment that fosters a sense of belonging among team members, the workplace becomes a safe and welcoming space where individuals can collaborate effectively and feel supported in achieving their goals.
Pillars 4 and 5 build upon this foundation by providing structured opportunities for continuous learning and innovation. Through the dedicated Curiosity Sessions and Creativity Workshops, teams can explore new ideas and discover different perspectives, which encourages and promotes a culture of curiosity and creativity. These scheduled sessions offer a structured time for reflection, exploration and experimentation; inviting individuals to step out of their daily routines, challenge themselves and embrace the possibilities of what could be.
Together, the 5 Pillars of Psychological Safety form a robust framework that cultivates an inclusive and forward-thinking workplace, where personal and professional growth, innovation and collaboration are deeply valued. By empowering both individuals and teams to reach their full potential, this framework creates a vibrant and supportive workplace culture that inspires employees to thrive and fosters a strong sense of belonging.

What Happens When You Don't Have a Safe Working Environment?
- Physical, mental and emotional health are affected.
- Poor performance and decision-making creeps in.
- Communication is strained and less effective.
- Little or no conflict resolution takes place.
- Blame culture emerges.
- This results in grievances, conflicts and liability risks.
- You see increased absenteeism and withdrawal behaviours in your team.
- Individuals shut down.
- Feeling insecure, individuals put barriers up to protect themselves.
- Individuals compare their performance and abilities to their peers.
- Stress levels are raised, causing frustration and resentment, which exacerbates existing health issues.
- Engagement is lowered; with individuals not bringing all of their unique skills, knowledge and experience to the table.
- This has a knock-on effect to their levels of satisfaction and sense of purpose at work.
- Turnover, revenue and profit are negatively impacted.
- HR teams see an increase in attrition, with a worrying level of retention amongst the newest recruits.
- With the employees that remain, there is low engagement and an increase in absenteeism.
- There is a loss in productivity, with missed opportunities for innovation.
- Ineffective collaboration occurs between individuals and teams.
- There is a greater risk of accidents, incidents and injuries.
- Problems are left unreported and corners are cut.
- Any wrong-doing, unethical or illegal behaviour remains unchallenged.
- This is where tragic failures occur, which in some industries can be catastrophic.
WHO IS GINA BATTYE?

Gina Battye is a world-renowned, award-winning Psychological Safety consultant and trainer for multinational corporations, Fortune 500s, TV, film, radio and the global press.
Gina is on a mission to create work environments where people thrive; where everyone feels safe to bring their whole self to work. Her aim is to introduce legislation to bring about worldwide change and protection for employees in terms of psychological safety.
Her blueprint for psychological safety: The 5 Pillars of Psychological Safety, is now being implemented worldwide to create fully inclusive workplaces. Gina developed Lux, a powerful psychological safety diagnostic tool that measures psychological safety in workplaces. It is being rolled out to multinational organisations worldwide.
Gina's work has been featured widely in the media, including Sky News, BBC, Forbes, The Telegraph, BBC Three, The Times, Metro, The Sun, Psychologies, Cosmopolitan, Pink News, Vice, Gay Star News, Diva and Curve.
A powerhouse. An influencer. A leader. She stands up, she speaks up, she shouts out, she calls out. She makes a difference. She educates. Gina is daily creating breakthroughs in workplaces globally, combining world-class training with a heavy dose of hindsight… Gina changes lives!


















