Chasing Psychological Safety

S1E1 - Inaugural Special Episode with the Godmother of Psychological Safety in Technology Gitte Klitgaard

Summary The conversation covers various topics related to the tech industry, personal challenges, and the need for a psychological safety community. The hosts catch up and discuss the current state of the industry, including issues with online presence and SEO. They also share their experiences with career changes and challenges in the industry. The conversation concludes with a discussion on creating a network of podcasts and the future of the tech industry. This conversation explores the challenges faced by women in the tech industry and the importance of psychological safety in creating inclusive and innovative teams. The speakers discuss the impact of mediocrity in organizations and the need for ego-less leadership. They also highlight the journey to psychological safety and the lack of measurement in this area. Additionally, they touch on the connection between psychological safety and innovation, as well as the cultural differences in fostering psychological safety. This part of the conversation focuses on the importance of neurodiversity in the workplace and the need for psychological safety and health at work. It also discusses the disconnect in diversity and inclusion initiatives and the impact of the mental health crisis on work. The conversation highlights the role of communication and bullying in the workplace and the importance of human work in creating a supportive environment. It emphasizes the need for effective leadership, self-awareness, and reflection, as well as the importance of embracing diversity and cultural differences. The conversation also touches on the need for preventive work, supportive environments, and continuous improvement in teams. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of recognizing and supporting neurodivergent individuals and challenging stereotypes in the workplace. In this conversation, Duena Blomstrom discusses the concept of podders and their potential to have their own podcasts. She emphasizes the importance of psychological safety and human depth in the tech industry. Duena also talks about humanizing engagement and centralizing resources for everyone. She extends an invitation to discuss topics like authenticity and women developers. The conversation concludes with closing remarks and future plans. Takeaways The tech industry is facing challenges related to online presence, SEO, and the dissemination of knowledge. Personal challenges and career changes can impact one's professional journey. Creating a network of podcasts can provide a platform for discussing important topics and amplifying voices. There is a need for a psychological safety community to address issues in the tech industry and promote a supportive and inclusive environment. Women in the tech industry face unique challenges and often struggle to be taken seriously. Psychological safety is crucial for creating inclusive and innovative teams. Mediocrity in organizations can hinder progress and prevent the development of psychological safety. Ego-less leadership is essential for fostering psychological safety and creating a culture of trust and collaboration. Measuring psychological safety is challenging but necessary for understanding team dynamics and identifying areas for improvement. Cultural differences play a role in fostering psychological safety and must be considered in creating inclusive environments. Neurodiversity and psychological safety are crucial for creating a supportive and inclusive workplace. Leadership plays a vital role in fostering psychological safety and promoting effective communication. The mental health crisis and burnout are significant challenges that need to be addressed in the workplace. Embracing diversity, cultural differences, and individual strengths is essential for creating a thriving work environment. Continuous improvement, self-reflection, and learning are key to creating a positive and productive workplace culture. The podders concept involves individuals having their own podcasts. Psychological safety and human depth are crucial in the tech industry. Humanizing engagement and centralizing resources can benefit everyone. Discussions on authenticity and women developers are important. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Catching Up 08:05 Discussing the Current State of the Tech Industry 09:32 Challenges with Online Presence and SEO 15:30 Personal Challenges and Career Changes 20:40 Creating a Network of Podcasts 23:03 Issues with Google and Microsoft 28:29 The Future of the Tech Industry 31:18 Techlet Culture and Disseminating Knowledge 34:02 Collaboration and Co-hosting Opportunities 35:01 The Need for a Psychological Safety Community 35:31 The Challenges of Being a Woman in Tech 38:06 The Importance of Psychological Safety 43:03 The Impact of Mediocrity in Organizations 46:26 The Need for Ego-less Leadership 53:52 The Journey to Psychological Safety 56:08 The Lack of Psychological Safety in Large Organizations 01:00:43 The Connection Between Psychological Safety and Innovation 01:04:37 The Challenges of Measuring Psychological Safety 01:09:08 The Cultural Differences in Psychological Safety 01:10:57 The Importance of Neurodiversity in the Workplace 01:11:23 The Need for Psychological Safety and Health at Work 01:12:13 The Disconnect in Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives 01:13:08 The Impact of Mental Health Crisis on Work 01:13:32 The Role of Communication and Bullying in the Workplace 01:14:23 The Importance of Human Work in the Workplace 01:15:13 The Focus on Output vs. Value in the Workplace 01:15:48 The Need for User Research and Customer Understanding 01:16:17 The Lack of Sustained Efforts in Design-Led Development 01:17:15 The Importance of Effective Communication and Listening 01:18:08 The Role of Leadership in Creating Psychological Safety 01:18:36 The Importance of Embracing Diversity and Cultural Differences 01:19:01 The Need for Self-Awareness and Reflection in Leadership 01:20:35 The Need for Humility and Learning in Leadership 01:21:05 The Importance of Empowering and Supporting Teams 01:22:06 The Need for Preventive Work and Supportive Environments 01:23:25 The Importance of Daily Human Work in Teams 01:24:57 The Generational Change in Workplace Dynamics 01:26:16 The Need for Human Work in the Face of Automation 01:27:05 The Role of Leadership in Creating Psychological Safety 01:28:27 The Importance of Self-Reflection and Self-Awareness in Leadership 01:29:19 The Need for Research and Understanding of Team Burnout 01:30:07 The Importance of Team Dynamics and Human Work 01:31:01 The Lack of Research and Focus on Human Work in Technology 01:32:21 The Importance of Continuous Improvement and Progress 01:33:18 The Need for Change and Innovation in the Workplace 01:34:57 The Importance of Neurodiversity and Inclusion in the Workplace 01:36:16 The Need for Change in Leadership and Workplace Culture 01:37:43 The Importance of Recognizing and Supporting Neurodivergent Individuals 01:39:29 The Need for a Shift in Mindset and Understanding of Neurodiversity 01:41:06 The Importance of Challenging Stereotypes and Embracing Diversity 01:43:43 The Need for Individualized Support and Understanding of Neurodivergent Individuals 01:45:40 Introduction to Podders Concept 01:46:07 Mission: Psychological Safety and Human Depth 01:47:01 Humanizing Engagement and Centralizing Resources 01:48:20 Invitation to Discuss Authenticity and Women Developers 01:49:15 Closing Remarks and Future Plans