The globally-proven blueprint for working better together
When you work in an Authentic Organization, the signs are everywhere. People trust each other. Teams overflow with ideas. There’s an infectious energy running through the whole business. Everyone feels it. And these businesses make outstanding achievements.
The Psychological Safety Institute (the PSI) exists to bring about powerful change – at a structural level through legislation; for individual businesses; and for leaders at all levels who want change too. Through our work on policy and standards, culture change programs, and CPD-accredited training, we’re here to enable every business to be an ‘Authentic Organization.’
Intrepid explorers with a new lens
In 2024, Gina Battye published her book The Authentic Organization. It sets out her method for culture change, and forms the foundation of the PSI’s methodology. It’s rigorously developed, rooted in psychology, and proven through application in industry.
Let’s be honest, it’s a jungle out there. Think of the PSI as an explorer in the wild, bringing back hard lessons learnt about this complex ecosystem we call work. In this article, we unpack exactly what we mean by an Authentic Organization – and why you should take notice if you want your people and your business to thrive.
Why it matters more than you know
When people feel supported, they make the kinds of bold choices that change companies’ fortunes and boost their reputations. When they feel they’ll really be listened to, they offer insightful observations about how to make things better. And when they know, from daily experience, that they’re not at risk of public criticism or credit theft, they freely share ideas.
For too many people, this isn’t how work feels at all. Instead of fun and fluid collaboration, there’s competition. Work is a way to pay the bills, not something to look forward to. Miscommunication is rife, toxic behaviour goes unchecked, and people sense they don’t really matter.
Authentic Organizations are different. In Authentic Organizations, there’s a culture of respectful communication, thoughtful feedback, and a feeling of belonging rooted in shared purpose and values.
Redefining psychological safety
The key to an Authentic Organization is ‘psychological safety’ – but perhaps not as you know it. When we talk about psychological safety, it’s never a buzzword or quick fix.
It’s about people feeling safe, comfortable, and confident. Safe to be themselves. Comfortable in their interactions with colleagues. Included and valued in their team and within the wider organization. It’s not limited to remedying toxic environments and it’s not limited to good intentions. Psychological safety is proactive and practical. It reframes leadership, management, and how everyone shows up at work.
Workplaces are organic and fluid; rich and nurturing. Authentic Organizations design the conditions for success from the ground up, creating environments that give people the best chance of doing their best work in every situation. The PSI exists to make this happen.
A practical approach that gets to the heart of it
Our approach has been honed in the wild, informed by working with real businesses and real people; by understanding the complexities and the dynamics of the wonderful ecosystem we call work. What makes the PSI approach different is that it’s highly practical and focuses on actionable change.
With psychological safety as the foundation, Authentic Organizations encourage everyone to develop the skills they need to work better together. That means treating emotional intelligence and communication skills as core capabilities. It means prizing self-awareness, because self-aware people understand their impact on others and build better relationships. And it means actively nurturing people’s curiosity and creativity — the keys to smarter processes, more popular products and services, and new revenue streams.
None of these things happen by accident. An authentic culture comes from thinking holistically about the full workplace ecosystem, the individuals who move through it, and the fundamental skills they need.
Going deep and going wide: five-level thinking
Our framework considers how culture operates at five critical levels. To make a lasting impact on workplace performance, it’s important to assess what’s happening at every level. Only then can you design a program of interventions that will deliver the change you need.
1. Personal Culture
This level involves the beliefs, attitudes, values, and behaviours of individual employees, at all levels of seniority. How do people see themselves? What are their limiting beliefs? How well-developed is their emotional intelligence?
2. One-to-one Culture
This level involves direct interactions between two individuals. For example, how a manager interacts with a junior employee, or how two colleagues communicate with each other. How effective is one-to-one communication?
3. Team Culture
This level involves dynamics and interactions within teams, where there are always a mix of personalities. Are roles and responsibilities clear, enabling efficient decisions? Are there healthy practices around giving and receiving feedback? Are different work styles respected?
4. Collaboration Culture
This level involves collaboration between different teams, departments and groups in your organization. How easy is it for different teams to work together? How successful is collaboration when it happens?
5. Organization Culture
This is the overarching culture of your organization, driven by what leaders say and do. What behaviors get recognized and rewarded (or overlooked)? How well do policies align with stated values and mission? What do support systems look like?
Culture as collective effort and business fuel
Fundamentally, our stance is that nothing exceptional happens alone. Humans evolved to work in groups. That’s what’s given us ice cream and orchestras and brain surgery. And it’s our instinct for togetherness that Authentic Organizations harness so brilliantly.
Whilst leadership controls the policies and sets the tone, these businesses know a thriving workplace is everyone’s responsibility.
The PSI is about creating the conditions for collective genius, so that industry-defining innovations can emerge. It’s about attracting the highest-calibre talent, and helping people do the very best work of their lives. It’s about authenticity, at all levels, always.
Curious about becoming an Authentic Organization?
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Order ‘The Authentic Organization’ book
For a deeper dive, get a copy of ‘The Authentic Organization’, authored by our founder Gina Battye. It’s a groundbreaking book about psychological safety at work that gives you a practical roadmap for lasting change. A must-read for leaders, managers, and HR professionals.
Here’s one reader’s review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “A transformative guide to creating environments where people feel safe, seen, and empowered to be themselves.”
“Gina offers a step-by-step approach to building inclusive, high-performing teams. You’ll find tools for better communication, frameworks for cultural change, and practical strategies for helping individuals bring their full selves to work – without fear or filter. This is more than a leadership book, it’s a cultural blueprint for creating a workplace where people (and ideas) thrive.”