The COE Psychological Safety Study offers an unfiltered, data-driven perspective on what’s really happening inside organizations. Based on clinical insights from workplace well-being professionals across 47 countries, the study provides a unique global lens on workforce challenges—from leadership blind spots to cultural barriers that hinder engagement.
For Chief People Officers (CPOs), Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs), and other senior business leaders, this report serves as both a wake-up call and a roadmap for action. The findings confirm that psychological safety is the bedrock of high-performing teams, inclusive leadership is the key to unlocking it, and psychosocial risk will soon be the next major workplace challenge that leaders must prepare for.
Psychological safety doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s built on the daily realities of how people experience work. When work-life pressures grow, the foundations of workplaces weaken. Leaders who act now to create psychologically safe and inclusive environments will define the next era of organizational success. – Donald Thompson, Managing Director of the Center for Organizational Effectiveness (COE)
The business case for psychological safety centers on trust, innovation, and collaboration among diverse teams, driving higher employee engagement, retention, and ultimately, organizational success. In a global context, understanding and prioritizing psychological safety ensures resilient cultures, adaptive strategies, and sustained competitiveness in a dynamic marketplace.