Seen. Heard. Valued.
Oddball Leaders build a culture of belonging
As an Oddball Leader — especially as one whose management experience was forged in the flames of the COVID pandemic — maintaining an environment of psychological safety for any team I lead is absolutely essential.
Understanding what makes people feel safe, and the circumstances that foster peoples’ sense of belonging is one of the first things I try to grasp when I bring someone new onto my team, or I become the leader of a new team.
I find that when people feel safe and when team members have a genuine sense of welcome in the workplace — they are motivated to bring their best selves as often as they’ll allow. Because they feel seen, heard, and valued — and they want to be there.
It’s more, though, than just laying a welcome mat down and letting people act however they’d like. It takes intention, and understanding:
