10 Actions for Building a Culture of Safety

In his exceptional book Culture Code, author Daniel Coyle describes what he learned in researching eight of the world’s most successful groups and the culture that contributed to their success. One of the foundational elements he discovered in each group was the essential nature of creating a culture of safety. Here are some of the elements Coyle found that both help to build a safe culture and also are present in organizations that possess safe cultures.

1. Physical proximity – including office locations and time together

2. Eye contact – maintaining high levels of eye contact between team members

3. Physical touch – such as fist bumps and handshakes

4. Questions – encouraging a lot of questions among one another

5. Humor – setting people at ease and reflecting “we are ok with each other”

6. Courtesy – including public thank-yous and gratitude shown towards other members

7. Vulnerability – sharing weaknesses and limitations and seeking input from others

8. Invitation – encouraging others to provide alternatives without punishment

9. Balance – members balancing the amount of time talking and listening

10. Embrace fun – laughter matters!

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Jay Desko is the CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.