There is something deeper here because if I need to believe that I am a good person, admitting that I have made a mistake can feel like a threat to my identity. I may become defensive, justify my behaviour, or focus more on protecting my self-image than understanding the impact of my actions. The more secure I am in who I am, the easier it becomes to say, “I got this wrong. What can I learn from it?”

I think that this is the kind of environment organisations should create from the moment someone joins a team. Not an environment without accountability, but one where accountability and humanity can coexist. Psychological safety is not about making people comfortable all the time, it’s about creating enough trust for people to be honest, especially when things become uncomfortable. And that trust is essential for learning, development, collaboration, and innovation.

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