“Any questions?”
You have most likely asked this question at some point during your career as an ATC instructor to be met only with a bunch of blank faces and silence. You were maybe left wondering whether trainees were at all engaged with the lesson.
Especially for trainees, asking may sometimes mean admitting not having understood and they are just trying to avoid been seen as stupid. This fear is something instructors need to help their trainees overcome if they want to create a great learning experience.
What is psychological safety?
Psychological safety refers to the environment in which everybody feels accepted, respected, and safe to take risks and speak their minds without fear of negative consequences or retribution.
In a training context, it means that trainees don’t worry about looking stupid, or being humiliated or judged for saying something wrong, asking questions, or making mistakes. In fact, in a psychologically safe environment, all understand that asking questions and making mistakes are crucial to learning.
With low levels of psychological safety, people feel stressed and are not motivated. No one can do their best if they are mentally and emotionally exhausted. On the other hand, an environment that reduces stress, in which people feel valued, have open and honest discussions, people can learn.
What can we do to develop psychological safety?
Pay attention and listen actively.
Show your trainees that you’re engaged and interested. They will shut down if they feel you don’t pay attention when they speak, or that you don’t value their participation and opinions. Ask questions to confirm you understand what they are saying. Also, use your body language to show engagement and be aware of it. Trainees will notice if you look tired or bored.
Build trust by focusing on solutions.
If they make a mistake try not to focus too much on the what and why. Go over what happened and why if needed but focus on “How can we make this better next time? Using we turns the responsibility to both of you rather than to the trainee and his/her mistake.
Include trainees decision making
Especially when concerning their learning path, consult with your trainees when making decisions. Ask for their input, thoughts, and feedback. If there is something in which you couldn’t include them for decision-making, explain the reasoning behind the decision once a decision is made. Even if they disagree, they’ll appreciate the transparency.
Lead by example
Don’t be afraid of taking interpersonal risks and sharing failures. Encourage your trainees to challenge your perspective and to give you feedback too.
Final Thought
Making mistakes, asking questions, and discussing is crucial for learning. If trainees fear being humiliated they won’t participate and therefore their learning won’t be at its best. This can be worked out by ensuring trainees feel valued, respected, listened to, and part of the organisation.
