The most dangerous sound in your business is silence
Learn how to construct effective feedback loops that bypass hierarchy and fear, ensuring you receive the critical truth about your business operations before it is too late.
Ben Schmidt
8 minPsychological Safety
14 posts
The Interrogator's Fallacy: why your questions are killing your team's creativity
Learn to shift from binary yes/no questions to open-ended inquiry. A guide for managers to stimulate critical thinking and uncover the truth within their teams.
Ben Schmidt
8 min
The Heartbeat of the Tribe: Why Your Business Needs Rituals, Not Just Rules
An exploration of how workplace rituals and traditions build psychological safety and team identity. We look at the anthropology of business and how simple habits like morning huddles can transform a group of strangers into a cohesive tribe.
Ben Schmidt
8 min
The Danger of Agreement: Why Comfort is the Enemy of Innovation in Small Teams
An exploration of why homogeneous teams fail to solve complex problems. We discuss the concept of cognitive diversity, the danger of 'culture fit,'and how to build an inclusive environment where friction leads to growth.
Ben Schmidt
7 min
The Laboratory of Little Bets: building a culture where it is safe to fail
Learn how to foster innovation by creating 'safe to fail' experiments. A guide for managers on reducing risk, encouraging curiosity, and using the scientific method to grow.
Ben Schmidt
8 min
Stop Wasting Your One-on-Ones: How to Turn 30 Minutes into Your Most Powerful Leadership Tool
A comprehensive guide to transforming one-on-one meetings. We explore why status updates kill morale and provide a framework for developmental conversations that drive retention and growth.
Ben Schmidt
6 min
The Whisper in Your Ear: Why AI Is Your New Mentor, Not Your New Manager
An analysis of the fear of AI surveillance in the workplace. We explore how to reframe AI from a monitoring tool to a real-time coaching assistant that empowers employees.
Ben Schmidt
5 min
The Organ Transplant Protocol: stopping team rejection before it starts
Learn how to prepare your existing team for a new hire to avoid turf wars and toxicity. A guide to the psychology of group dynamics and onboarding.
Ben Schmidt
8 min
The Golden Signal: Why Your Front-Line Staff Knows the Future Before You Do
Unlock the hidden innovation pipeline in your business by learning how to listen to front-line employees and build a culture of bottom-up idea generation.
Ben Schmidt
8 min
The Nobel Prize for Failing: why rewarding effort is the secret to innovation
Learn how to build a culture of innovation by celebrating the 'attempt' rather than just the outcome. A guide for managers on rewarding risk-taking and intelligent failure.
Ben Schmidt
6 min