Which statement best defines psychological safety?

• A. A shared belief that the workplace is safe for interpersonal risk-taking.
• B. An environment where individuals fear speaking up.
• C. An absence of learning from mistakes.
• D. Rigid adherence to rules.

Answer: (B)

Psychological safety means people feel safe to take interpersonal risks—to speak up with ideas, questions, concerns, or to admit mistakes without fear of embarrassment or punishment. The statement that captures this best is that the workplace is a shared belief that it is safe for interpersonal risk-taking. When this belief exists, team members are more likely to voice diverse perspectives, challenge the status quo, and learn from errors, which boosts learning and performance.

If people fear speaking up, that signals a lack of psychological safety. An absence of learning from mistakes also runs counter to psychological safety because safety supports reflection and improvement after errors. Rigid adherence to rules describes a controlling culture, not one that encourages open discussion and risk-taking.