People who feel psychologically safe are happier, healthier,
perform better and are more engaged at work.

However, many businesses and organisations make the mistake of thinking that giving people new knowledge and skills will bring about the desired change.

But people are not machines. Simply ‘topping people up’ with more tools (horizontal growth) to get the job done efficiently and safely is not enough.

Sustainable behaviour change needs vertical growth otherwise under pressure we easily default to old habits.

Vertical growth takes self-awareness as the starting point.

It’s a process of exposing hidden unconscious drivers and learning to self-regulate (especially under pressure) while staying aligned with core values.

It’s as much about unlearning existing habits, as it is developing new ones.

When it comes to growing great leaders, building high-performing teams, or transforming an entire culture people need to:

• Master self-awareness, take responsibility for behaviour, and courageously hold others accountable
• Shift from image management (need for external validation) to values-aligned behaviour
• Be deliberately developmental (adopt a growth mindset)
• Know how to interrupt fast brain reactivity and behaviours that limit growth
• Self-regulate difficult and challenging emotions in real time