About Practices for Psychological Safety & Autonomy In Teams
Happy, healthy, high performing teams - how do you create them?
Research suggests it takes psychological safety, social connection and autonomy. You are likely to spend more time with your team than your family, so this really matters.
This podcast is to share practices that helps teams be real with each other, connect, feel safe to be themselves and do great work.
I'm Helen Sanderson and my first podcast series was called A Cup of Teal. It explored self-management practices and shared our learning from Wellbeing Teams. Wellbeing Teams were self-managed teams, inspired by Buurtzorg, supporting people to live well at home and be part of their community. We were 'Outstanding' by CQC, and delivered support to people in teams across the UK for four years.
Most of the practices we talk about in this podcast formed part of how Wellbeing Teams worked.
However, this podcast is not about self-management. I believe that all teams can grow in psychological safety, deepen connections and more towards greater autonomy. This podcast is for any team leader who wants to learn about the practices that can help, learning from my colleagues, mentors and me.
"It is very hard for anything to matter to someone who doesn't first believe that they matter. And on the flip side, when people feel that they matter, they act like they matter."
Senior Fellow at the Center for Meaning and Purpose at Colorado State University, Zach Mercurio talks about why traditional employee engagement strategies fall short and how the psychological concept of mattering serves as the foundation for true psychological safety.
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Helen's new book Practices for Psychological Safety is available to pre-order (published October 2026)- https://www.koganpage.com/hr-learning-development/psychological-safety-in-practice-9781398629400 (https://www.koganpage.com/hr-learning-development/psychological-safety-in-practice-9781398629400)
If you are interested in our Tensions Cards to create Team or Meeting Agreements https://www.hsalearningcards.org/ (https://www.hsalearningcards.org/)
Connect with Helen:
Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/helensandersonhsa/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/helensandersonhsa/)
One-Page Profile https://www.helensandersonassociates.com/meet-the-team/helen-sanderson/ (https://www.helensandersonassociates.com/meet-the-team/helen-sanderson/)
Website https://www.helensandersonassociates.com/ (https://www.helensandersonassociates.com/)
28 Sept 2026
Putting the Moose Head on the Table with Lisa Gill
Nobody is talking about this moose head on the table even though we all see it, we all smell it.
Podcaster, author, and leadership trainer, Lisa Gill of Tuff Leadership Training (https://www.tuffleadershiptraining.com) talks about what it truly takes to build human-centric, autonomous, and psychologically safe workplaces.
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Helen's new book Practices for Psychological Safety is available to pre-order (published October 2026)- https://www.koganpage.com/hr-learning-development/psychological-safety-in-practice-9781398629400 (https://www.koganpage.com/hr-learning-development/psychological-safety-in-practice-9781398629400)
If you are interested in our Tensions Cards to create Team or Meeting Agreements https://www.hsalearningcards.org/ (https://www.hsalearningcards.org/)
Connect with Helen:
Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/helensandersonhsa/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/helensandersonhsa/)
One-Page Profile https://www.helensandersonassociates.com/meet-the-team/helen-sanderson/ (https://www.helensandersonassociates.com/meet-the-team/helen-sanderson/)
Website https://www.helensandersonassociates.com/ (https://www.helensandersonassociates.com/)
18 Sept 2026
Building Psychological Safety as a Team Sport with Jade Garrett & Tom Geraghty
Psychological safety isn't just a leadership responsibility—it’s a team sport.
Co-founders of psychsafety.com (https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Fpsychsafety.com), Jade Garrett and Tom Geraghty explore how teams can practically dismantle power barriers and foster everyday trust.
Rather than relying on top-down "leaderism" or oversimplified staged models, Jade and Tom break down what it actually takes to make speaking up meaningful, address steep organizational power gradients, and adopt high-impact team practices.
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Helen's new book Practices for Psychological Safety is available to pre-order (published October 2026)- https://www.koganpage.com/hr-learning-development/psychological-safety-in-practice-9781398629400 (https://www.koganpage.com/hr-learning-development/psychological-safety-in-practice-9781398629400)
If you are interested in our Tensions Cards to create Team or Meeting Agreements https://www.hsalearningcards.org/ (https://www.hsalearningcards.org/)
Connect with Helen:
Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/helensandersonhsa/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/helensandersonhsa/)
One-Page Profile https://www.helensandersonassociates.com/meet-the-team/helen-sanderson/ (https://www.helensandersonassociates.com/meet-the-team/helen-sanderson/)
Website https://www.helensandersonassociates.com/ (https://www.helensandersonassociates.com/)
Who has been a guest on Practices for Psychological Safety & Autonomy In Teams
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Sam Jones
Diana Cole
Martin O'Connor
Rachel Owen
Barb Swartz-Biscaro
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
802,622
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Podcast Authority Score: 55 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
76
Social presence
0
YouTube
86
Engagement
0
Contact Practices for Psychological Safety & Autonomy In Teams
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Practices for Psychological Safety & Autonomy In Teams
Who hosts Practices for Psychological Safety & Autonomy In Teams?
Helen Sanderson host the show. Published by Helen Sanderson.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Practices for Psychological Safety & Autonomy In Teams take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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