Outwit, Outlast, Outplay

The tagline from TV’s “Survivor” reality show is a near perfect recipe for removing psychological safety. The show is notorious for alliances and manipulations as people attempt to win.

Alliances claim to be loyal to each other, but more often than not there are multiple layers of manipulative play going on with everyone ultimately vying for the final place.

People do these things often on the show:

• Take credit when things are going well

• Blame others when things aren’t going well

• Talk about people when they are not there, and speculate about their loyalty and actions

• Throw people under the bus whenever it is expedient

• Seed uncertainty and mistrust in conversations and actions.

If you want a psychologically safe workplace where people have each other's backs and are willing to share resources, ideas and concerns, do the opposite.