Why is psychological safety so important in coaching?

A lot has been written about psychological safety in the workplace, especially when working with teams, and how, when people feel included and safe, they can be much more open, express their ideas and therefore be more productive. 

Psychological safety and coaching

In 1:1 coaching or a group coaching session, psychological safety is built through trust, empathy, and respect for each other. A coach can nurture an environment where the coachee(s) feel listened to and supported, and where there is room for exploring ideas so the coachee(s) can openly share what is on their mind, in confidence and without judgement. This will then inspire deeper reflection and more self-awareness, which are fundamental for moving forward. 

How can psychological safety be nurtured in a 1:1 or group coaching session?

Contracting: The process of establishing an agreement of how the coach and coachee(s) work together so everyone is clear on what is expected. This means letting coachees know the logistics of coaching sessions, what they can expect, and explaining what coaching is and isn’t. Being clear about your role as a coach, background, professional qualifications, accreditations, and training is helpful to set the scene as it begins to create an open and safe space for sharing.

Active Listening: Building rapport by listening attentively without interrupting and with an open mind will make the coachee(s) feel heard, valued, relaxed and safe. Positive body language, tone of voice, eye contact and summarising what you hear are ways to check your understanding and let the coachee know you are listening intently. As the coaching progresses, it also helps you notice if there are any changes or if you need to make any adjustments. Asking at the end of each coaching session what has worked well for you and what didn’t go as well will give both coach and coachee greater insight. 

Confidentiality: Establishing confidentiality, not only in the contract or agreement, but throughout the coaching sessions to reassure the coachee(s) that what they say will not be shared and any documents are kept in line with legislation. In a group coaching session, time is spent at the beginning of the session agreeing on how the group will work together by drawing up a confidential group charter or agreement, which is then referred to throughout the sessions. 

Non-judgmental: Creating an atmosphere that is open, empathetic, inclusive, and free from any opinions will help to create an environment for people to explore sensitive issues. Adapting your style and pace of the coaching session to the needs of the coaches or group will help create the right space. Using appropriate learning exercises and tools will support people to move forward and build upon their strengths. This can be enlightening and lead to more curious and meaningful conversations, supporting them to take some next steps.

Open Questions: Asking open-ended questions like tell me about, who, what, why, where, and how helps to encourage thinking and exploration and enables deeper reflection. Balancing challenging questions with empathy and support and listening to what is said and, sometimes, importantly what is not said can lead to further discussion. Allowing some silence in the session can help some people process and reflect.  This can lead to greater awareness and action. 

Supportive: Encouraging a positive environment where mistakes are seen as learning opportunities helps to build open communication and a safe space for coachee (s) to express doubts, concerns, problems and any vulnerabilities they have. Discussing the ways they could achieve their goals by asking the right questions allows coachees to open up possibilities and move forward.

Final thoughts 

As a coach, my starting point is to create the right inclusive environment for you or your team to be yourself and trust me so you feel safe to talk and share your thoughts. Everyone has different ways of learning and processing information, and coaching can enable you to take action towards achieving your goals or intentions. Contact a coach to find out more.