What does it take to create workplaces where people feel safe to speak up, take risks, and innovate without fear of failure? Well, the answer can be summed up in two words: psychological safety.

Psychological safety is not just a trend or a culture that is “easy” on employees. It's a business philosophy that seeks to empower our teams and boost performance.

So in this episode of In Good Companies, we’re diving into the increased attention being paid to psychological safety in the workplace — what it is, why it matters and how to build it into your organization’s DNA. To open this important conversation, we’re bringing in a mental health advocate with 30 years experience in the field: Kathy Pike, CEO of the non-profit One Mind at Work.

With a career spanning academia and the private sector, Kathy brings a global perspective to the challenges and opportunities of workplace well-being. Together with our host Ari Marin, they break down why psychological safety should be treated as a strategic business priority, explore practical ways to embed it into leadership and operations and they discuss the benefits of psychological safety for attracting talent, improving team performance, and shaping the future of work.

Make room for humanity and tune in to unlock the full potential of corporate well-being for your business.

• What Psychological Safety really means (1:09)
• Why we’re talking more about mental health in the workplace (3:36)
• “Mental health and well being is a strategic imperative for the future of work” (5:59)
• Psychological Safety to improve your leadership and performance (8:11)
• The Mental Health at Work Index (10:11)
• Proving the benefits of Psychological Safety (12:16)
• Examples of company initiatives that promote Psychological Safety (14:36)
• Questions leaders should ask to assess Psychological Safety (17:32)
• “Being kind means being prepared to have difficult conversations” (19:57)
• Diversity as a contributor to Psychological Safety (21:48)
• Mental health support: the challenge of remote work (23:44)
• How workplaces are evolving and what it means for social connection (26:51)

Links:

• Cadence Bank Website
• Cadence Bank X (Twitter)
• Cadence Bank LinkedIn
• Cadence Bank YouTube
• Kathy Pike Website
• Kathy Pike LinkedIn
• One Mind at Work Website
• One Mind at Work YouTube
• The Mental Health at Work Index
• Article - One Mind's Mental Health at Work Index
• Article - The Hybrid Work Model and Loneliness in the Workplace
• Book - The Return of Kindness, by Bonnie Hayden Cheng

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, [email protected] or [email protected].

Read the full show transcript.

Meet the Host

Ari Marin, SVP, Family Enterprise Advisor, Cadence Asset Management & Trust and the new host of Cadence Bank’s In Good Companies (IGC) podcast, says his idea of “good company” is being around creative, insightful people who enjoy sharing personal stories about the things that helped make them successful.

From 9 to 5, Marin is a Cadence Bank senior vice president and family wealth strategist, whose specialty is consulting with family-owned and small businesses. Now, he’s squeezing in IGC hosting duties, bringing in a new voice and fresh perspectives.

As a lawyer with a master’s in taxation from Villanova, Marin holds his own in the business world. But hosting IGC gives him a new way of engaging with entrepreneurs and experts to learn smart ideas and new ways of doing things.

Outside the office, Marin is a history fan and podcast aficionado who loves reading and exercising with his two dogs: Friday–aka “the angel”--and Mahla, the stubborn Shih Tzu with selective hearing.

Meet the Speaker

Kathy Pike serves as CEO of One Mind, a non-profit that has science as its cornerstone and people at the heart of its work advancing discovery, innovation and workplace best practices to positively impact mental health and well-being of people globally.

One Mind has three signature programs: One Mind Rising Star Awards, One Mind Accelerator, and One Mind at Work.

Prior to joining One Mind, she founded and directed the Columbia University World Health Organization Center for Global Mental Health. She continues to lead the Center’s Mental Health + Work Design Lab. Dr. Pike has pioneered initiatives on the global stage advocating for expanded mental health services and translating research into practice in workplaces, schools and under-resourced communities. Her scholarship focuses on eating disorders, culture and psychopathology, global mental health and mental health at work.

Dr. Pike completed her BA/MA in international studies and psychology at Johns Hopkins University and her doctoral degree in clinical psychology at Yale University. She has received multiple awards for her work advancing mental health including the 2021 American Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Contributions to the International Advancement of Psychology.

This podcast is provided as a free service to you and is for general informational purposes only. Cadence Bank and its affiliates make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the content in the podcast. The podcast is not intended to provide legal, accounting or tax advice and should not be relied upon for such purposes.