High-performing teams don’t just happen; they’re built on trust, inclusion, and psychological safety. Yet many Total Rewards programs unintentionally undermine that foundation by emphasizing competition over collaboration or rewarding outcomes without reinforcing the environment that produces them.

This session explores how psychological safety—the shared belief that team members can speak up without fear of embarrassment or retaliation—directly impacts engagement, retention, and performance. Drawing on research, case studies, and real-world HR practice, attendees will learn how to identify gaps, design rewards and recognition systems that foster safety, and activate leaders as role models of trust, creating teams that not only perform, but thrive.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand what psychological safety is and why it is essential for high-performing teams
• See how Total Rewards programs and recognition practices can positively or negatively influence team safety
• Gain practical tools to measure safety within teams and align rewards strategies accordingly
• Learn techniques to equip leaders and managers to cultivate psychologically safe environments