The quality of our conversations determines the quality of our results.
Psychological safety means people feel safe to speak up because they trust the system won’t punish them for it. But it also means they trust that their input matters—and that there are shared standards for excellence.
A good conversation entails asking good questions, listening intently, and pushing for closure along three dimensions: the degree to which people are listening and sharing, the presence of both advocacy and inquiry, and the degree of progress made.