OTD unveils programme to help individuals, teams & businesses thrive

It means we have thoughts and opinions that might never be expressed, and while that’s not only limiting for individuals, it’s ultimately bad for business too.

Research shows that the most productive workplaces are those where people feel able to be their true, authentic selves - a safe place for interpersonal ‘risk-taking’.

And it’s a desire to create those safe spaces that led OTD’s head of coaching, Louise Roberts, to devise a brand new programme - Psychological Safety.

“Like many people, I have firsthand experience of not feeling empowered to challenge or express myself, and it’s incredibly demotivating,” explains Louise.  

“You feel unable to contribute, it can lower your resilience and add to your stress too.

“Psychological Safety is centred on creating a space where everyone feels valued, respected and included. We know that innovation is the golden ticket that every business needs, and if we can foster environments where people can express themselves freely without fear, we can help our customers to thrive.”

The programme has added significance for OTD. As a global coaching and training business, the company works with diverse groups of people across the world, so being able to offer safe and positive learning experiences is paramount.

To help ensure Psychological Safety meets those objectives, OTD devised virtual and face-to-face advisory panels. The first consisted of key senior stakeholders from existing global customers in the life sciences sector, while the second comprised learning and development professionals at organisations in the West Midlands. Feedback was unanimously positive.

Louise said: “Psychological safety is a tough subject, so for both advisory panels to love the concept and the way we delivered it was incredibly powerful. It’s a real tribute to the work we do at OTD in helping to create a sense of belonging, which in turn allows people to open their minds and learn

“The most important thing we can get across to others is that our intent is positive - we may say or do the wrong things but our intent is to support and make people feel safe.”

Collaboration with the advisory panels has enabled OTD to shape and refine Psychological Safety even further to meet customer needs. It’s also led to an ongoing opportunity for professional networking and development. 

“What was perhaps most pleasing was that we had people who were relative strangers to our business, grasping both the importance of the subject and the impact it can make,” added Louise.  

“There is a real appetite to continue the conversation and we’re planning on hosting further sessions during the year to build on the momentum.”

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To find out more about Psychological Safety, please click here.

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