Your Role in Cultivating Psychological Safety in Early Care and Education Programs, by Jill M. Bella, Ed.D.

It is the responsibility of a leader to create a culture where people can flourish. Whether you are the leader of an early care and education program or the leader of a team within one, you hold the tools for cultivating an environment where candor and truth are welcome and the organization and individuals within it are on a path to learning and growth. When staff are afraid to speak up, offer opposing viewpoints, provide constructive feedback, make mistakes, and collaborate with colleagues, they suffer and the organization is stunted. Unfortunately, many leaders are unaware that staff are fearful. Leaders may not also recognize how their words and actions contribute to unsafe spaces.

This session, presented by early childhood leadership expert, consultant, and author, Jill Bella, M.Ed., will provide an overview of psychological safety and strategies for leaders to set the stage, encourage participation, and respond supportively—cultivating the space for both the staff and the organization to thrive.

In this strategy-rich session, you will:

• Define psychological safety

• Identify signs of psychologically unsafe spaces

• Reflect on how you currently cultivate psychological safety as a leader

• Explore strategies for setting the stage, encouraging participation, and responding constructively

• Determine next steps for creating safer spaces for employees to thrive