Strategy #3 Example: Write the Main Body in Paragraphs Rather than Numbered or Bullet Point Lists
Example: A Passage of Bullet Points and Phrases
See the passage comprised of bullet points and phrases below.
Building Trust: Fostering Psychological Safety and Open Communication
Trust is critical of a healthy culture. Leaders build trust by fostering psychological safety, a term coined by Harvard professor Amy Edmondson, which refers to a workplace environment where employees feel safe to speak up, share ideas, take risks, and admit mistakes without fear of retribution.
Employees who feel trusted and heard are more likely to contribute innovative ideas and challenge the status quo.
- Open communication creates clarity and alignment, reducing ambiguity about goals, expectations, or changes.
- Trust empowers employees to take ownership of their roles and collaborate effectively.
How Leaders Build Trust:
- Creating Safe Spaces: Encouraging employees to share ideas or concerns without judgment.
- Actively Listening: Leaders who listen more than they speak demonstrate respect and validate employees’ perspectives.
- Transparency: Sharing updates, decisions, and rationale openly—even when the news is difficult.
- Following Through: Trust is earned through consistent actions. Leaders must deliver on promises and commitments.
Example of Trust-Building: At Google, psychological safety was identified as the key driver of effective teams in their Project Aristotle research. Google leaders create a culture of openness where employees are encouraged to share ideas without fear of failure. This trust has allowed teams to collaborate, innovate, and achieve groundbreaking results.
The Risk of a Trust Deficit: In cultures where trust is lacking, employees remain silent, innovation stalls, and morale declines. Leaders who dismiss concerns, avoid transparency, or fail to act on feedback quickly erode trust and psychological safety.
Key Takeaway: Leaders build trust by creating an environment of psychological safety, open communication, and follow-through, where employees feel valued, heard, and safe to be their authentic selves.
Example: The Same Passage Edited to Remove Bullet Points and to Finish Sentences
Building Trust: Fostering Psychological Safety and Open Communication
Trust is critical of a healthy culture. Leaders build trust by fostering psychological safety, a term coined by Harvard professor Amy Edmondson, which refers to a workplace environment where employees feel safe to speak up, share ideas, take risks, and admit mistakes without fear of retribution. Employees who feel trusted and heard are more likely to contribute innovative ideas and challenge the status quo. Open communication creates clarity and alignment, reducing ambiguity about goals, expectations, or changes. Trust empowers employees to take ownership of their roles and collaborate effectively.
Leader can build trust by creating safe spaces and encouraging employees to share ideas or concerns without judgment. Leaders can model actively listening. Leaders who listen more than they speak demonstrate respect and validate employees’ perspectives. Leaders can practice transparency — sharing updates, decisions, and rationale openly—even when the news is difficult. Leaders can follow through. Trust is earned through consistent actions. Leaders must deliver on promises and commitments.
At Google, psychological safety was identified as the key driver of effective teams in their Project Aristotle research. Google leaders create a culture of openness where employees are encouraged to share ideas without fear of failure. This trust has allowed teams to collaborate, innovate, and achieve groundbreaking results.
In cultures where trust is lacking, employees remain silent, innovation stalls, and morale declines. Leaders who dismiss concerns, avoid transparency, or fail to act on feedback quickly erode trust and psychological safety.
Leaders build trust by creating an environment of psychological safety, open communication, and follow-through, where employees feel valued, heard, and safe to be their authentic selves.
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