Somewhere along the way, the concept of psychological safety underwent concept creep. People started to say they were unsafe if another person disagreed with them. They started to say that safe environments meant ones where everyone talked the same way, thought the same way and never ever joked or teased. People started, in short, to equate safety with a total lack of challenge. Being a safe person meant signing up to an unspoken code of conduct. Never speaking up or ask awkward questions. A safe space meant one where everyone had to keep to the rules and Be Kind. But true psychological safety comes from knowing that you can tolerate disagreement. It comes from knowing that people can have different views, and they may challenge you…and you’ll be safe enough anyway. It comes from knowing that you can express what you think, and you won’t be shunned or kicked out. True psychological safety comes when we are not afraid of discomfort, not when we try to eliminate it. Let’s stop pretending otherwise.