Stepping into the frame to build psychological safety

As consultants, we always hope that a client will fully step into ‘the work’, particularly when that’s literal. 

Last week, as part of a workshop on psychological safety, we invited leaders and managers at Infinitesima, a fast-growing technology business in Oxfordshire, to think about their position on Kim Scott’s Radical Candour quadrant, why they might find themselves there, and what they might need to do to create a context in which everyone feels free to provide honest and constructive feedback.

This is provocative work. Considering how one’s care for others might lapse into ‘ruinous empathy’, or how - under pressure - one’s need to challenge might sharpen into ‘obnoxious aggression’ takes trust and courage, so we were really grateful for the level of engagement on the day. 

Infinitesima is focused on commercialising novel metrology technology that brings 3D imaging to semiconductor manufacturing at speeds that weren’t possible before, and are scaling-up to realise their potential. Inevitably, this creates pressure and strain across the business, and yet the team understand that their strategy requires a culture that supports openness and risk taking, in which people can depend on one another for honest, clear and developmental feedback. 

It's a real pleasure to be working with them on this, both through workshops like this one and a nine-month development programme for senior leaders.