Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile Storytelling from the Trenches
Episode: BONUS Creating Psychological Safety at Work With Mehmet Baha
Host: Vasco Duarte
Release Date: February 22, 2025

Introduction

In this special bonus episode of the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast, host Vasco Duarte delves into the vital topic of psychological safety in the workplace. Joining him from Berlin, Germany, is Mehmet Baha—a renowned psychological safety expert and one of Facebook's first European employees. This episode offers invaluable insights, practical tools, and inspiring real-life stories to help Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches foster a safe and productive environment for their teams.

About the Guest: Mehmet Baha

Mehmet Baha, often referred to as Baha, brings over 24 years of experience working with top organizations worldwide. As the author of the book "Creating Psychological Safety at Work," Baha specializes in equipping leaders with strategies to build trust, encourage innovation, and promote collaboration. His expertise lies in creating inclusive workplaces where employees feel safe to express their ideas and concerns.

The "1632 64" Framework

At the heart of Baha's book is the "1632 64" framework, an impactful structure designed to create psychological safety within organizations.

• 16 Inspiring Examples: Real-world stories from organizations that have successfully implemented psychological safety.
• 32 Practical Tools: Actionable tools and approaches to facilitate the creation of a safe work environment.
• 64 Thought-Provoking Questions: Reflective questions aimed at helping leaders develop their own psychological safety plans and strategies.

Baha explains:
[03:38] “The approach is based on head, heart, and hands. Head means we learn the concepts, heart means we get emotionally inspired, and hands represent the practical implementation of what we’ve learned.”

The Power of Questions

Baha emphasizes the significance of questions in fostering psychological safety, making the concepts interactive and actionable for readers.

Baha states:
[05:40] “Posing questions is a powerful way to make readers think through and give their own answers, enabling them to put these concepts into practice.”

This reflective practice allows leaders and team members to internalize and tailor psychological safety strategies to their unique contexts.

Common Misconceptions About Psychological Safety

During the conversation, Baha addresses three prevalent misconceptions about psychological safety:

1. Psychological Safety is Just Being Nice:
   Some believe it means avoiding difficult conversations.
   Baha clarifies:
   [08:29] “We can be nice and deal with difficult issues simultaneously. High standards and compassionate leadership can coexist.”

2. It's About Constant Criticism:
   Others think psychological safety fosters a negative and toxic environment.
   Baha counters:
   [08:29] “This misconception leads to a hostile work culture, which is the opposite of what psychological safety aims to achieve.”

3. Psychological Safety Lacks Business Value:
   There's a notion that it's an abstract, non-essential concept.
   Baha highlights:
   [08:29] “Research shows significant benefits, including a 27% reduction in employee turnover and a 12% increase in productivity.”

Real-Life Example: Canadian Mining Company in Turkey

Baha shares a compelling story of a Canadian mining company operating in Turkey, demonstrating the profound impact of psychological safety.

Key Points:

• Leadership Approach:
  The CEO emphasized high standards and compassionate leadership, creating an environment where employees felt safe to report accidents without fear of disciplinary action.

• Results:
  Since implementing these practices, the organization achieved zero accidents over 850 days.

Baha shares:
[15:14] “He listens to all employees, understands their pain points, and empowers them to be part of the solution, leading to a safer and more engaged workforce.”

Balancing Performance Pressure with Psychological Safety

The episode explores how leaders can maintain high performance while fostering a psychologically safe environment, even under significant pressure.

Baha discusses:
[15:57] “Psychological safety is not contradictory to performance pressure. In fact, it's essential for sustaining high performance by ensuring employees are engaged and motivated.”

Example Shared:
In a tech company with a command-and-control management style, high pressure led to short-term results but a toxic work culture and burnout. Baha emphasizes that fostering psychological safety leads to long-term engagement and performance.

Practical Tools for Creating Psychological Safety

Baha introduces two concrete tools that Scrum Masters and leaders can implement immediately to cultivate psychological safety:

1. Movers, Movables, and Immovables

Origin:
Created by Jason Little, this tool helps manage resistance during change initiatives.

Components:

• Movers: Enthusiastic employees ready to embrace change.
• Movables: Employees who are on the fence, waiting to see results before committing.
• Immovables: Resistant employees who prefer the status quo.

Implementation Strategy:
Start with Movers to create small wins, communicate these successes to gain Movables, and engage with Immovables to understand and address their concerns.

Baha explains:
[19:10] “Don’t start with resistance. Begin with movers, achieve small wins, and build momentum from there.”

2. Green Card

Purpose:
To encourage dissent and open dialogue during meetings, especially in environments where employees are hesitant to speak up.

Case Study:
A team director introduced the Green Card in weekly meetings, allowing one team member each session to play the devil's advocate without fear of judgment.

Outcome:
Employees began to feel safe expressing dissenting views, leading to more honest and constructive discussions.

Baha illustrates:
[24:10] “The Green Card creates an explicit permission to dissent, removing the stigma and fostering an environment where all ideas can be freely expressed.”

The Role of Self-Reflection in Leadership Transformation

Baha underscores the importance of self-reflection for leaders aiming to create psychological safety within their teams.

Baha shares:
[28:21] “Without leading ourselves, we cannot lead others. Understanding and improving our own psychological safety is foundational to fostering it in our teams.”

Key Steps for Leaders:

1. Self-Awareness:
   Assess the current level of psychological safety within the team and one's ability to foster it.
2. Knowledge Acquisition:
   Continuously learn about psychological safety through books, podcasts, and training sessions.
3. Implementation:
   Apply learned strategies consistently in daily interactions.
4. Sustaining Practices:
   Regularly seek and act on feedback to maintain and enhance psychological safety.

Example from Baha:
[31:43] “I regularly ask for feedback on my performance in podcasts and learning sessions, demonstrating openness and willingness to improve.”

Recommended Resources

For listeners eager to delve deeper into psychological safety, Baha recommends accessing additional resources:

• Website:
  solutionfolder.com/free-resources
  Offers an 8-week video series on various aspects of psychological safety, providing practical guidance to implement in the workplace.

Conclusion

This episode of the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast with Mehmet Baha offers a comprehensive exploration of psychological safety, debunking myths, sharing inspiring stories, and providing actionable tools. Leaders are encouraged to engage in self-reflection, embrace feedback, and implement strategies like Movers, Movables, and Immovables, and the Green Card to cultivate a safe and high-performing team environment.

Notable Quotes:

• [05:40] "Posing questions is a powerful way to make readers think through and give their own answers, enabling them to put these concepts into practice."
• [08:29] “Research shows significant benefits, including a 27% reduction in employee turnover and a 12% increase in productivity.”
• [24:10] “The Green Card creates an explicit permission to dissent, removing the stigma and fostering an environment where all ideas can be freely expressed.”

For more insights and to purchase Baha's book, "Creating Psychological Safety at Work," visit Amazon or the show notes for direct links.

Stay Connected:
Follow Mehmet Baha on LinkedIn for more content, videos, and updates on fostering psychological safety in the workplace.

Support the Podcast:
If you found this episode valuable, please rate it on Stitcher or iTunes, share it with your network, and help other Scrum Masters discover these essential resources.

Remember, creating psychological safety is not just a leadership skill—it's a pathway to a more innovative, engaged, and resilient team.