"To build a culture of innovation…”

Who said it? "To build a culture of innovation, leaders must encourage employees to voice their opinions, share novel ideas, and discuss errors openly."

This quote comes from Amy Edmondson, PhD, Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School, in her groundbreaking 2018 book "The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation and Growth."

Edmondson's research reveals that true innovation thrives not in environments of perfection, but in spaces where vulnerability is welcomed and mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities. Her concept of psychological safety challenges leaders to move beyond traditional hierarchical thinking towards creating conditions where people feel safe to take risks without fear of embarrassment or retribution.

In today's rapidly changing business landscape, what steps are you taking to foster psychological safety in your organisation? How might creating space for open dialogue transform your team's innovative capacity?