Dear Lynn: Navigating Employee Frustration

How to Build Trust and Foster Psychological Safety in Your Team

Dear Lynn, 

Sometimes I am so frustrated with my employees, I just want to do everything myself. I shouldn’t let this feeling affect me the way it does and really need to work on not being so reactive. I think I see an employee performing poorly as untrustworthy, as I hired them because they told me they could do the job. 

Thanks. Mary

Dear Mary,

Leading a team is not easy, it takes a lot of energy and a good deal of grit and understanding. Hiring the right people is so important, in particular ensuring that their values match those of your business. That’s the first thing. Second. ensuring that your employees feel safe enough to tell you if they do not know a skill or need extra support to learn a new skill is very important. We call this psychological safety at work. Learning a skill and giving your employees the training and tools they need to do the job builds a good team. Having the right person with the right character who fits with your business is most important to build trustworthiness that we all aim to have. 

Thanks, Lynn

Please note that these are real clients with real concerns. The publisher has changed their names to protect their anonymity. Permission has been granted to tell their stories. 

AUTHOR | LYNN HISCOE

Lynn Hiscoe is a psychotherapist practicing in Creston, both in person and on-line. With 25 years of experience working with professional and business women, she has led a team of 15 clinicians for over 15 years and continues to develop programs and provide clinical supervision, group therapy, training, and retreats.