There’s a phrase I’ve been thinking about a lot lately:
“You get your say, not always your way.”
It’s a short sentence, but it says a lot. It’s about voice, it’s about respect, and it’s about the kind of culture we’re building–especially when we aim for continuous improvement.
In The Mistakes That Make Us, I wrote about the characteristics of learning organizations. One of the most important is encouraging people to speak up–not just about mistakes, but also about ideas, concerns, and potential risks.
But here’s the nuance:
Psychological safety doesn’t mean consensus. It doesn’t mean you’ll get your way every time.