By Capability and Workforce Committee Taskforce at the Australian Public Service Commission.
Are you part of a team where team members feel safe to express themselves or be vulnerable without fear of ridicule or retribution?
This is speak up culture in practice. Speak up culture is fundamental for integrity, promotes innovation and continual learning. It leads to high performing teams and supports employee wellbeing, engagement and inclusion. It is like a superpower!
Speak up culture in the APS is based on the academic definition of psychological safety,
“the belief that one will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns or mistakes, and the team is safe for interpersonal risk taking."
Amy Edmondson, 1999
The importance of psychological safety to the APS was identified in the Louder than Words: An APS Integrity Action Plan, developed in response to the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme.
What prevents us from speaking up?
Sometimes there may be barriers to speaking up or it may feel risky. As APS employees, it’s important that we overcome the barriers as we all have a role in building trust and confidence in the APS.
The good news is that guidance material is now available to help all APS employees, managers and senior leaders understand what speak up culture is and learn practical actions to help build and sustain it.
The guidance outlines 4 key practices (the 4C practices) that form the foundation for speak up culture: listen with compassion, show curiosity, speak with candour and act with courage.
The speak up culture guidance includes two learning resources:
- Introductory guidance for APS leaders and employees
- Manager playbook for anyone who manages a team of people
Want to know more about building the 4C practices and speak up culture? Access these resources via the APS Academy today.