Psychological safety isn’t just a leadership trend; it’s a crucial foundation for a thriving workplace. While physical safety rightly garners attention—through measures like secured doors, surveillance, and visitor protocols—these efforts overlook a deeper need: the psychological safety of employees.

In the area of leadership, the landscape has transformed significantly, reflecting major shifts in philosophy since the 1980s and 1990s.

Have you just been promoted into a leadership position and don’t know where to start? Or perhaps you’ve been at it awhile, but want to improve your skills. There are many things effective leaders have adopted as part of their practice:

I don’t have enough time to do everything?

How many times have you uttered these words? What about:

I feel overwhelmed?

I have spent years working on and with volunteer boards which are the epitome of a high-turnover team. Faced with annual elections which result in new directors, boards face a unique challenge of creating a cohesive team quickly, knowing they face a yearly cycle of change.

Patrick Lenioni’s flagship book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, should be required reading for every leader and team member.

We are in a leadership crisis.

I say this often (and I truly believe it). But why? How did we get here?

Have you ever been on a great team? One where you had each others’ backs and you got each other. You may have rocked a project and probably had a great time doing it?

Do you remember a time when you smiled at someone, and they smiled back? When someone gave you a compliment? When someone paid for your coffee in a drive through lane?

Are you someone who completes your work early and doesn’t stress about quickly approaching deadlines? Or do you find yourself sliding into home as the catcher swings his glove above you and just get it done in the nick of time?

Go Hard or Go Home!
It’s All or Nothing!
No Pain, No Gain!

I’m not sure when I first heard these phrases, but I somehow never thought to question them.

Are you a rockstar or a super star? Or do you know? What about for those on your team?