Creating a workplace that fosters autonomy and psychological safety is essential for employee well-being and organizational success. When employees feel empowered to take charge of their responsibilities and are supported in a psychologically safe environment, they are more engaged, productive, and innovative. In the previous blog, we explored the concept of autonomy and the importance of psychological safety in the workplace. The “LEAD” framework for organizational success explores the intricacies of delivering autonomy through psychological safety at the workplace Read the blog here. A culture of autonomy, combined with trust and open communication, accounts for effective mental health and improved mental hygiene practices at the workplace. This approach helps employees avoid negative thoughts, effectively deal with the challenges, and take care of their mental health.
Here are five key benefits of building autonomy and psychological safety in the workplace:
- Creates a sense of Accountability
- Boosts Productivity
- Builds Cohesiveness
- Flourishes Creative thinking
- Builds a positive work culture
Creates a sense of Accountability:
An organization with good autonomy and psychological safety at work allows the employees to take charge of their work, hence creating an increased sense of accountability. When autonomy is embedded in an organization’s culture, it significantly enhances personal accountability (e.g., “I am responsible for completing the tasks assigned to me”). It also boosts organizational responsibility (e.g., “I ensured the project was submitted before the deadline”). This dual sense of ownership not only drives productivity but also leads to higher job satisfaction among employees. Read our previous blog to know more *link for the blog* Such a workplace nurtures good leaders; it also allows them to use and enhance their skills simultaneously. A sense of accountability can be fostered in the workplace by providing employees an open space to engage in their work and allowing room for errors.
Boosts Productivity
According to the reports by Mind Celebrations 44% of employees come to work feeling guilty, which reduces productivity. Lack of psychological safety and autonomy is one of the many reasons behind this productivity loss. This can cause turbulence in the emotions of the employees. Our Emotional Fitness program helps incorporate mental hygiene routines into the company’s work culture. We teach emotional first aid methods to foster positive emotions and channel them to scale up individual and collective performance goals. If an organization delivers Autonomy through psychological safety at the workplace, this builds a sense of motivation, keeping the employees engaged and boosting the productivity of employees. It also develops a high sense of self, giving better outcomes at work. Productivity within an organization helps the organization function smoothly and keeps the employees satisfied. Not having emotional stability can be a roadblock to boosting productivity. Take our Emotional Fitness Assessment and know your scores now. This Mental Health Assessment gives you a clear picture of where your mental health stands, whether you are emotionally dependent or emotionally independent, giving you a unique detailed report creating awareness and taking further steps.
Builds Cohesiveness
Good autonomy at the workplace is reflected in the team’s communication. At the core of this strong foundation lies “trust.” Trust within the team members, trust of the employers in the employees, and finally, trust within ourselves. A team with transparency and a good flow of communication performs better and promotes a safe space in an organization, which allows employees to freely share their ideas and their problems. This cohesiveness within the team can be maintained by providing your team with an Employee Assistance Program crafted just for them as per their needs. We at Mind Celebrations make it easier for organizations to connect with their employees through workshops and the Employee Assistance Program. If you want to grow your organization, get started now!
Flourishes Creative thinking
A unique flow of ideas and divergent thinking occurs only when the organization engages in autonomy and psychological safety at the workplace. It takes into consideration every team member’s opinions and creates a space where team members think beyond their assigned roles. Leading to greater job satisfaction and fostering positive mental health. As discussed in our LEAD framework, delivering autonomy through psychological safety at the workplace helps organizations in democratic decision-making. To know more about this, read our blog here. This multidimensional framework allows them to figure out what suits them the best and how the organization can get close to their success.
To think clearly and reach one’s full potential, one needs to have the right energy levels. 97% of employees are at risk of at least one factor of workplace fatigue. This, along with negative thoughts about one’s performance at work, causes hindrance in attaining divergent thinking and is quite time and energy-consuming. Take our Energy Amplifier Assessment and know your energy builders and energy leaks. This Mental Health Assessment and our Energy Amplifier program help inculcate rituals to boost and sustain energy levels, manage and cultivate personal energy builders, and plug energy leakages and negative thoughts, preventing fatigue and burnout.
Builds a positive work culture
With attrition being the biggest reason behind organization’s downfall, how can the same organization attract good employees? By clearly defining the goals and objectives. All the employees out there are looking for psychological safety at the workplace to understand this concept. Read our previous blog- Delivering Autonomy through Psychological Safety. Maintaining transparency among the team members helps employees make righteous decisions. Everyone wishes to have some autonomy while working on their tasks. If an organization has good autonomy within the team for years, it builds a positive reputation amongst the employees. Fostering a culture of trust and accountability indirectly builds a psychologically safe workplace. This ultimately benefits organizational growth and employees maintaining a healthy work-life balance, fostering positive mental health and mental hygiene with the employees.
Building autonomy and psychological safety in the workplace requires consistent effort and commitment. Remember, all these benefits of autonomy can only be fostered if there is trust within the organization and amongst the team members. Providing employees with equal opportunities, fostering accountability, encouraging creativity, and supporting open communication contribute to a thriving work environment. By prioritizing autonomy and psychological safety, organizations can enhance productivity, improve employee satisfaction, and establish a strong foundation for sustainable growth. We at Mind Celebrations extensively work on building Proactive Mental Health through our EAP program, curated with utmost care and research. To know more, get in touch with us at reach@mindcelebrations.com or visit us at www.mindcelebrations.com. The Authors are co-founders of Mind Celebrations – the first preventive Mental Healthcare initiative for organizations and employees.
FAQs:
- What are the benefits of building Autonomy and psychological safety in the
workplace?
– Creates a sense of Accountability
– Boosts Productivity
– Builds Cohesiveness
– Flourishes Creative thinking
– Builds a positive work culture
- How do we attain psychological safety in the workplace?
Take our Energy Amplifier Assessment and know your energy builders and energy leaks. This Mental Health Assessment and our Energy Amplifier program help inculcate rituals to boost and sustain energy levels, manage and cultivate personal energy builders, and plug energy leakages and negative thoughts, preventing fatigue and burnout.
- How to boost productivity?
Our Emotional Fitness program helps incorporate mental hygiene routines into the company’s work culture. www.mindcelebrations.com We teach emotional first aid methods to foster positive emotions and channel them to scale up individual and collective performance goals. If an organization delivers Autonomy through psychological safety at the workplace, this builds a sense of motivation, keeping the employees engaged and boosting the productivity of employees. It also develops a high sense of self, giving better outcomes at work.
