Tag Archives: psychological safety

Sponsored Content by the First Responder Behavioral Health Institute By: Robert Avsec, Battalion Chief (Ret.), Executive Fire Officer The phrase “cutting edge” comes from the literal idea of a blade’s sharp edge—something at the forefront of action, able to cut through resistance. Its earliest figurative uses date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when the phrase was ...

What I’m about to talk about is nothing new for most of you, unfortunately it isn’t new to me either. In just over 27 years of this life [Of publice service] I voluntarily chose, looking past the day-to-day “job” there is something that continues to become clearer as the years tick away. Most everyday can only be described as “chaotic” in public safety, no matter your certification level, and regardless of the geography; We are all quick to drop the “brother this” and “sister that” in our daily life. While I’m [may] not the first to tease your brain with this, my take makes sense to me, so maybe it will make some sense to you.

Psychological safety is the belief that you won’t be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes. At work, it’s a shared expectation held by members of a team that teammates will not embarrass, reject, or punish them for sharing ideas, taking risks, or soliciting feedback