Introduction to the Client Relationship
Ethos began its journey with the Roads & Infrastructure division of WSP in the UK, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms, through a pilot project aimed at enhancing psychological safety within their teams. With a focus on roads and infrastructure in Scotland, WSP sought Ethos’s expertise to foster environments where innovation could thrive, supported by a culture of psychological safety.
Recognising that innovation flourishes in settings where team members feel safe to express ideas, voice concerns, and acknowledge mistakes without fear of retribution, WSP wanted to create a foundation that would empower their teams to think creatively and take calculated risks.
Services Provided by Ethos
To address WSP's needs, Ethos delivered a comprehensive suite of services, including:
• A Psychological Safety overview workshop• The Fearless Organisation Scan• A Debrief Workshop designed to elevate the level of psychological safety within the teams
These sessions were meticulously designed to help WSP’s teams understand the concept of psychological safety and to equip them with the tools needed to foster such an environment.
Evidence of Success
The impact of Ethos’s intervention was evident through the feedback received from the workshop delegates. The workshops garnered an impressive satisfaction rating of 90% (5.39 out of 6). Participants praised the sessions, with one remark capturing the essence of psychological safety: “Frank, open, and honest discussions within the team were extremely worthwhile.”
This feedback highlighted a significant shift within the team—those who attended the workshops left with a clear goal to consciously work towards improving psychological safety in their day-to-day interactions.
Focus of the Collaboration
The primary focus of Ethos’s collaboration with WSP was on psychological safety. By building this foundation, WSP aimed to strengthen team dynamics, enabling members to engage more openly and collaborate more effectively on innovative projects.
About WSP
WSP is a global leader in engineering and professional services, with a mission to create lasting positive impacts on communities. With over 9,000 professionals in the UK and Ireland, and 67,200 worldwide, WSP is committed to innovation, integrity, and inclusion. In Scotland, WSP plays a pivotal role in delivering sustainable infrastructure, focusing on resilience, sustainability, and smart technologies.
Impact on WSP
The workshops and training sessions provided by Ethos had a meaningful effect on WSP’s People Management Team. Participants left with a clear understanding of psychological safety and developed both personal and organisational actionable plans to enhance psychological safety within their teams. The training also reinforced the importance of leadership characterised by vulnerability and authenticity, which had a noticeable impact on the team’s dynamics.
Throughout the training, several best practices were identified that has proven to besuccessful in fostering a psychologically safe environment:
• Workshop Methodology: The structured yet open approach to workshops encouraged genuine engagement.• Rethinking Risk: Emphasising the need to approach risk differently to facilitate innovation.• Engagement in Meetings: Promoting active participation in meetings was crucial.• Cross-Section Conversations: Encouraging dialogue across different levels and functions within the team.• Dialogue over Debate: Fostering open conversations rather than adversarial debates.• Generative Listening: Listening to understand as opposed to listening to respond.• Participant led solutions
Participants came away from the training with several key takeaways:
The importance of radical candour—being open and honest while still showing respect.
The value of team gatherings to strengthen relationships and build trust.
The shift from debates to dialogues as a means of fostering understanding.
Ensuring equality of voice so that everyone feels heard.
Practicing generative listening to truly understand others’ perspectives.
Reframing failure as a learning opportunity rather than a setback.
Improvements Post-Training
Following the training sessions, there was a noticeable increased awareness of psychological safety and the practices required to foster psychologically safe environments within WSP. Follow-up conversations revealed that the workshops had allowed the delegates to experienceteam dynamics, such as ‘generative listening’ and ‘dialogue vs debate’, that many were previously unaware of, leading to more thoughtful and inclusive interactions.
Future Developments
As part of the Psychological Safety Scan debrief workshop, WSP’s team committed to implementing the action plans developed during the sessions. There is also ongoing discussion about extending the psychological safety scan across different teams within WSP, demonstrating their commitment to continuous improvement and the value they place on psychological safety.
Conclusion
Ethos’s collaboration with WSP has underscored the importance of psychological safety in driving innovation and fostering a positive work environment. The success of the pilot project has laid a strong foundation for future initiatives, as WSP continues to build on the progress made, ensuring that their teams are equipped to thrive in an ever-evolving industry.
