How to Be A Contribution weaves together threads from Amy Edmondson’s book The Fearless Organization, Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander’s book The Art of Possibility, and Timothy Clark’s book The Four Stages of Psychological Safety.

[0:01] If you’re a writer you’re accustomed to writing sh*tty first drafts. This means you have a lot in common with…Pixar!

[2:42] Why it’s hard to take risks in higher ed, whether you’re a student, faculty, campus staff, or even an administrator.

[6:44] I share what I’m learning from the Zanders’s book The Art of Possibility. I’m especially intrigued by what it means to approach life with the intention to “be a contribution.”

[10:20] “How to be a contribution” is a pr’ctice seen repeatedly in Amy Edmondson’s research — at Pixar, the hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, Eileen Fisher, and even Google X, at Alphabet. Being a contribution actually means embracing mistakes: making them, claiming them, and learning from them.

[12:50] Amy Edmondson has created a three-part framework for implementing psychological safety, particularly related to contributor safety. Not surprisingly, her model is also incredibly effective if you teach.

[16:16] A “happy little teaching story” from today’s surprise guest, Elise Robinson!

[19:21] Elise’s magic demonstrates Amy Edmondson’s idea of Leadership Inclusiveness:

• being approachable and accessible;
• being fallible, and
• being curious enough to ask team members for their regular input and perspective.

[21:24] Two take-aways for how to be a contribution and create psychological safety: one for you, and one for your team.

Readings & Resources

The Fearless Organization by Amy Edmondson

The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander

Inclusion Uncomplicated by Nika White

The Four Stages of Psychological Safety by Tim Clark

“Why All Pixar Movies Suck (At First)” by Josh Linker, in Forbes

🧐 Take Amy Edmondson’s quiz to identify your opportunities to improve psychological safety. (Follow the link to the form, then make a copy to store and use yourself.)

Related episodes

Feminism is Optimism, Episode 22 with Elise Robinson (who can get enough of Elise??!!)

Inclusion: Stage One of Psychological Safetyhttps://theclareogroup.com/2023/02/13/inclusion-and-psychological-safety/, episode 37.

Excellent Teaching, Excellent Leading: Stage Two of Psychological SafetyFrom Toxic to Vibrant: The One Thing You Can do to Improve Your Campus Climate, episode 15