IU Executive Education: Keys to building a trust-based culture and a culture of psychological safety

Written by: Sara Johnson, FACHE
Interim Director, IU Executive Education
Director, Indiana Hospital Association Management Institute

Psychological safety has been defined by Great Places to Work as “a shared belief that team members feel safe to take risks, share ideas, and make mistakes without fear of negative consequences.” To create psychological safety in your team and organization, you must begin with building trust. At IU Executive Education, we focus on teaching people how to strengthen their own leadership and enhance their organization’s effectiveness.

As a leader, that journey starts by addressing the culture within your own team and using intentional strategies to build trust and create a culture of psychological safety.

Building trust as a new manager

As a new manager, establishing trust within your team is essential for effective leadership. Here are three key strategies to help you foster a trusting environment:

1. Embrace transparency: Share information openly with your team. Be honest about what you know and what you don’t. This clarity helps to eliminate uncertainty and builds confidence among your staff, allowing them to feel informed and included.
2. Be reliable: Consistency is vital in leadership. Ensure your messaging and treatment of others—whether colleagues or external partners—are steady and dependable. When your team knows they can rely on you, it reinforces their trust in your leadership.
3. Stay authentic: Authenticity is crucial in building genuine connections. Be yourself and avoid trying to fit a mold. If you act differently with different groups, your team will sense the inconsistency, which can undermine their trust. Show them your true self to cultivate a deeper sense of trust and respect.

By focusing on transparency, reliability, and authenticity, you not only enhance trust within your team but also model these behaviors for them to adopt as they grow in their careers. Building a culture of psychological safety and trust will empower your team to thrive, ultimately leading to better service to your stakeholders and more organizational success.

As you journey throughout your career, keep in mind that as leaders, someone is always watching how you lead, and they learn from you. Build that trust-based culture and you not only see the results now, but you will see the results in those who learn from you and how they lead into the future.