Company Values and The Safety They Create
Alright, lean in and let’s make something clear: company values aren’t just a fancy set of words you slap on your website to impress investors. They’re the compass that guides every decision, every action, every damn word that’s spoken in your organization. In essence, they’re the DNA of your company culture.
How do these values connect to psychological safety? It’s simple. Well-defined and authentic company values create a clear roadmap for how people should behave and interact. They set the expectations — not just for what we do, but for how we do it. If your values include things like “open communication,” “respect for all,” or “innovation through risk-taking,” you’re creating an environment where it’s safe to speak up, make mistakes, and think differently. And voila — that’s psychological safety.
But here’s the kicker: you can’t just talk the talk; you have to walk the walk. If your actions don’t align with your values, your employees will see right through that. It’s like showing up to a vegan potluck with a rack of ribs — it doesn’t fly.
So, if your company values are more than just fancy jargon and are actually woven into the fabric of your organization, they become a safety net. They reassure employees that they’re in an environment that respects and values them, not just for their output, but for their input too. So yes, company values done right can provide psychological safety — but only if you’re willing to put in the work to make them more than just words on a screen.
