The Road to Creating Psychological Safety in a Tech Team is Full of Dragons

Some of the readers of this outlet would remember me as an ex-FinTech exec who had likely the first interview in your publication as an influencer back in the dark ages. I had then just written a book called ‘Emotional Banking’ based on my experience in the industry. Fast forward a few years and you’ll find me hyper fixating on this still and meanwhile, I’ve studied and understood what brought us here in the workplace and what is the way forward. This is the road to safety in a tech team.

Why the Road to Creating Psychological Safety in a Tech Team is Full of Dragons and HumanDebt

My book, ‘People Before Tech: The Importance of Psychological Safety and Teamwork in the Digital Age” was one of the first to tackle the concept of Psychological Safety and how it is sheer magic for teams.

It also discusses the great divides I had found when I started to work with hundreds of tech teams across industries and geographies, and pleads with organisations to embrace this move to humanity.

My latest book, Tech-Led Culture: Unlock the Full Potential of Your Business and People, delves deeper into the intricacies of creating a culture that prioritises humans first and peppers it all with practical and direct advice. One of the most profound concepts I’ve introduced is “Human Debt”, a term that encapsulates the emotional and psychological toll that arises when businesses neglect the human side of technology.

Understanding Human Debt:

Human Debt is the cumulative emotional and psychological strain that builds up when teams consistently face environments that lack empathy, understanding, and genuine human connection. Just as technical debt can cripple a project with inefficient code and shortcuts, Human Debt can stifle innovation, creativity, and productivity by eroding the very foundation of a team: its people. In the tech world, especially in sectors like banking, the pressure to deliver often overshadows the wellbeing of the team members.

Deadlines, client demands, and the race to stay ahead can create environments where individuals feel undervalued, unheard, and stressed. This not only leads to burnout but also hampers the overall performance and potential of the team.

The Solution: EQ-driven, fearless, intentional Tech-Led Cultures

Addressing Human Debt requires more than just acknowledging its existence. It demands the creation of emotionally intelligent and tech-led cultures that put humans first.

Such cultures prioritise empathy, open communication, and genuine connection. They create environments where team members feel safe to express their ideas, concerns, and emotions without fear of retribution.

Over the years, I’ve realised that to truly combat Human Debt, we need tools to help teams understand and address their unique challenges. This realisation led to the creation of “PeopleNotTech”, a dashboard designed to help teams foster psychological safety, reduce burnout, and achieve performance levels akin to tech giants like Google.

PeopleNotTech isn’t just another software tool; it reflects a philosophy that believes in the power of human connection. Over the past five years, this platform has been instrumental in transforming teams, making them more cohesive, understanding, and high-performing.

A Reluctant Social Entrepreneur

My journey into addressing Human Debt wasn’t driven by a desire for profit or recognition. It was born out of genuine concern for the wellbeing of individuals in the tech industry and beyond. As I delved deeper into the issue, I realised the magnitude of the challenge. Educating industries, especially traditional ones like banking, required significant investment in terms of time, effort, and resources.

Over time, the costs added up, and I found myself investing millions into this cause. From building the PeopleNotTech software, to speaking engagements, writing, and advising, every effort was geared towards creating awareness and solutions for Human Debt. This journey transformed me into a reluctant social entrepreneur, driven by a mission to rid industries of the emotional and psychological burdens they unknowingly place on their teams.

The Way Forward

As we navigate the complexities of the modern tech landscape, it is crucial to remember that humans are at the heart of every innovation, project, or solution. Their wellbeing, creativity, and potential are the true driving forces behind the success of any endeavour.

To truly unlock the potential of our businesses and teams, we must prioritise psychological safety. We must create environments where individuals feel valued, heard, and understood. Tools like PeopleNotTech can guide us in this journey, but the real change begins with a shift in mindset. A shift towards EQ-driven, fearless, intentional tech-led cultures that put humans first.

In conclusion, addressing Human Debt is not just a moral obligation; it’s a business imperative. By fostering psychological safety and prioritising the well-being of our teams, we can unlock unprecedented levels of creativity, innovation, and success. The future of tech lies not just in codes and algorithms but in the hearts and minds of the people who bring them to life.

Duena Blomstrom is an international keynote speaker, technology and culture expert, social entrepreneur, CEO of PeopleNotTech, and author.

Written by Duena Blomstrom, author of ‘Tech-Led Culture: Unlock the Full Potential of Your Business
and People’.

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