Now, I know for many people, Thanksgiving also brings with it the dreaded dinner table conversations, especially in the wake of elections. Whether the results align with your beliefs or not, chances are you’ll find yourself sitting across from someone with an opposing view. And that’s where the concept of psychological safety can really help us navigate those potentially tense moments.
This year, as political conversations inevitably arise, we can approach them differently by intentionally fostering psychological safety at the table. How do we do that? It starts with listening—really listening—not just to respond, but to understand. It also means being okay with the discomfort that may come with hearing things you don’t agree with. But instead of shutting the conversation down or turning it into a heated debate, what if we asked thoughtful questions to gain perspective? And what if we approached the discussion with genuine curiosity rather than trying to convince others to see things our way?