Learning Corner: Team Check-In: How Safe Is It to Speak Up?

Estimated Time to Complete: 30 minutes

Objective:
To get an honest read on how safe your team feels to raise concerns, share ideas and admit mistakes, and to agree on one step to improve.

Materials Needed:

• An anonymous poll tool or paper slips

• A team meeting slot

Activity Steps:

1. Run a quick pulse (5 minutes)
Ask three anonymous questions, rated 1 to 5: "If I make a mistake on this team, it is not held against me." "I can bring up problems and tough issues." "It is easy to ask others on this team for help."

2. Share the results (5 minutes)
Show the averages to the team without defending or explaining them away. Thank people for being honest.

3. Go first (5 minutes)
As the leader, share one mistake you made recently and what you learned. This tells people it's safe to do the same.

4. Ask for ideas (15 minutes)
Ask: "What is one thing that would make it easier to speak up here?" Pick one idea and try it for a month.

Key Takeaways:

• Safety to speak up is something a team can measure and improve.

• Leaders set the tone by going first.

• Thanking people for bad news makes it more likely you'll hear it again.

Reflection Prompt:

When did someone on your team last tell you something you didn't want to hear? How did you respond?

Want help bringing this to your team? Book a free 30-minute conversation with Tony.