Psychological Safety: Stop Guessing & Start Measuring To Supercharge Your Culture
What if your team’s biggest performance blocker wasn’t capability—but silence?
In this episode, I’m joined by psychological safety expert Gary Keogh to unpack why so many people still don’t feel safe to speak up at work—and how most leaders are blind to it. We explore what psychological safety really is (and isn’t), why two in five people still hold back, and why 70% of leaders think their teams feel safer than they actually do.
Gary shares practical insights into the four domains of psychological safety, the impact of accurately measuring it, and the powerful shifts he sees during the breakthrough sessions he runs with teams. We also flip the usual doom-and-gloom narrative, highlighting positive examples like Netflix’s “farming for dissent” approach.
If you want to build a high-trust, high-performance culture—this is where it starts.
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Key Takeaways
Silence is the hidden killer of performance: Two in five employees hold back ideas or concerns due to fear, costing organisations innovation, speed, and trust.
Psychological safety isn’t about comfort, it’s about candour: It’s not about being “nice.” It’s about creating space for honest, respectful challenge without fear of reprisal.
There are 4 domains of Psychological Safety: Willingness to help, inclusion & belonging, attitude to risk & failure, and open conversations.
Stop guessing. Start measuring: A 3-minute survey can uncover the truth, spark the right conversations, and drive lasting behaviour change.
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Key Moments
The key moments in this episode are:
0:00:10 – Why silence still rules too many workplaces
0:04:00 – Gary’s purpose: Unlocking and igniting potential
0:06:40 – What makes people hold back and what leaders miss
0:09:10 – What psychological safety is (and isn’t)
0:13:55 – The four domains of psychological safety
0:17:45 – Real breakthroughs from team sessions
0:22:40 – Why safety must be a group phenomenon
0:26:20 – Netflix's “informed captain” & farming for dissent
0:30:10 – How to handle challenge and feedback the right way
0:34:30 – Data sparks conversation and change
0:40:20 – What sustained impact really looks like
0:42:55 – Gary’s 3 Sticky Notes for building psychological safety
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Join The Conversation
Find Andy Goram on LinkedIn here
Listen to the Podcast on YouTube here
Follow the Podcast on Instagram here
Follow the Podcast on Twitter here
Follow the Podcast on Facebook here
Check out the Bizjuicer website here
Get a free consultation with Andy here
Check out the Bizjuicer blog here
Download the podcast here
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Useful Links
Follow Gary Keogh on LinkedIn here
Find Gary's website here
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Full Episode Transcript
Get the full transcript of the episode here
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45:19
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45:19
Beyond Conflict: Building Compassionate Communication Into Your Company's DNA
Ever wondered why workplace conflict often persists despite numerous policies and rules? Maria Arpa, an expert in compassionate communication, shares how embracing heart-centred, human-focused dialogue can transform workplace relationships, enhance trust, and boost productivity. Discover how intentional use of compassion can revolutionise your leadership impact and help you curate a better, more effective workplace culture. This stuff ain't fluffy! It's the real deal.
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Key Takeaways
Conflict Starts With "I Matter": Conflict arises when people feel undervalued. Compassionate communication focuses on recognising individual worth.
Dialogue Beats Debate: Dialogue isn't about winning arguments but about understanding. Replacing debates with dialogues fosters genuine understanding.
Hierarchies Can Be Harmful: Rigid power structures often exacerbate conflict. Compassionate leadership offers a more effective and humane alternative.
Compassion Is Practical, Not Fluffy: Effective, compassionate communication involves robust boundaries and practical techniques that positively affect organisational performance.
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Key Moments
The key moments in this episode are:
0:00:10 – Introduction: Tackling Workplace Conflict with Compassion
0:05:16 – From London's Streets to Corporate Suites: Maria’s Journey
0:09:29 – Why Do People Really Argue? Three Core Conflict Messages
0:14:05 – Is Compassionate Communication Too Soft for Business?
0:17:36 – Relationships and Trust: The Foundation of Productive Workplaces
0:27:40 – Dialogue vs Debate: Unpacking Maria’s Dialogue Road Map
0:34:07 – Why Companies Struggle with Compassionate Leadership
0:40:02 – The Holistic Approach: Blending Energy and Practical Communication
0:42:24 – Sticky Notes: Advice for Compassionate Communication
0:44:11 – Closing Thoughts & Where to Find Maria
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Join The Conversation
Find Andy Goram on LinkedIn here
Listen to the Podcast on YouTube here
Follow the Podcast on Instagram here
Follow the Podcast on Twitter here
Follow the Podcast on Facebook here
Check out the Bizjuicer website here
Get a free consultation with Andy here
Check out the Bizjuicer blog here
Download the podcast here
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Useful Links
Follow Maria Arpa on LinkedIn here
Listen to Maria's All Things Conflict Podcast here
Find the Peaceful Solutions website here
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Full Episode Transcript
Get the full transcript of the episode here
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45:48
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45:48
From Burnout to Better: The Human Fix for Our AI-Overloaded Work Lives
Is work becoming too much? Between the chaos of AI-generated content, the pressure of constant digital demands, and outdated workplace models, something’s got to give.
In this episode of Sticky From The Inside, Andy Goram speaks with Brent Kedzierski, workplace futurist and former Head of Global Learning Strategy at Shell, to explore how we can build more human-centred organisations in the age of AI. Brent introduces powerful concepts like work density and work intensity, exposing why today’s work environments leave so many people overwhelmed—and how we can fix that. He challenges legacy industrial thinking, highlights the generational misalignments at play, and makes the case for designing work that supports cognitive clarity, emotional fulfilment, and real human value.
If you're a leader grappling with AI overload, generational tensions, or rising burnout, this conversation offers both a wake-up call and a hopeful way forward.
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Key Takeaways
Too Much Work, Not Enough Meaning - AI and outdated systems are overwhelming employees and draining purpose from work.
Rethinking Work: Density vs. Intensity - True engagement requires both clarity in the work and emotional connection to it.
Gen Z Wants Purpose, Not Just Promotion - Younger workers seek meaning and growth, not just a climb up the corporate ladder.
Design With Humans, Not Just for Them - Organisations must shift from control to co-creation to build healthier, more fulfilling work.
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Key Moments
The key moments in this episode are:
0:00:10 – Are We Making Work Too Intense?
0:03:48 – Meet Brent Kedzierski: From Steel Mills to Shell to Shaping the Future of Work
0:07:03 – A Crash Course in the Five Industrial Revolutions
0:13:32 – The AI Explosion: Autocatalytic Data and Algorithmic Drift
0:17:36 – Work Density and Intensity: Fixing the Chaos of Modern Work
0:22:45 – Generational Disconnect: Gen Z vs. Old-School Work Thinking
0:30:47 – The Four Human Truths of Meaningful Work
0:35:16 – Designing Work That Feeds the Brain, Not Just the Bottom Line
0:39:33 – Sticky Notes: Brent’s Top 3 Takeaways for Thriving in Industry 5.0
0:42:39 – Wrapping Up: What’s Next for Leaders and Organisations
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Join The Conversation
Find Andy Goram on LinkedIn here
Listen to the Podcast on YouTube here
Follow the Podcast on Instagram here
Follow the Podcast on Twitter here
Follow the Podcast on Facebook here
Check out the Bizjuicer website here
Get a free consultation with Andy here
Check out the Bizjuicer blog here
Download the podcast here
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Useful Links
Follow Brent Kedzierski on LinkedIn here
Visit Brent's website here
Read some of Brent's stuff at Hexagon here
Follow Brent on Instagram here
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Full Episode Transcript
Get the full transcript of the episode here
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44:08
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44:08
Escape the Funky 5: How An Engineer Cracked the Anxiety Code
Anxiety, fear, procrastination, perfectionism, and self-doubt—what Daniel Packard calls the "Funky 5"—hold back countless professionals every day. But what if these issues weren't just manageable, but solvable? Daniel, CEO of Full Liberation Technology and known as "The Internal Engineer," joins Andy Goram to share his revolutionary, body-based system that permanently resolves anxiety and fear by recalibrating the nervous system. Discover the innovative, data-backed approach that has already transformed lives and teams worldwide.
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Key Takeaways
Anxiety and fear aren't just mental—they originate in a malfunctioning nervous system.
The traditional "mind-based" approaches often only manage symptoms instead of solving the core issue.
Small, consistent actions to care for the nervous system can permanently solve anxiety and related issues.
True liberation from anxiety leads to profound improvements in professional performance, personal happiness, and overall well-being.
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Key Moments
The key moments in this episode are:
0:00:10 – Why Traditional Approaches to Anxiety Fail
0:07:36 – Daniel Packard’s Journey: From Mechanical Engineer to Anxiety Innovator
0:15:57 – Solving Anxiety: The Engineering Approach
0:23:26 – The Power of Results-Focused Anxiety Solutions
0:30:13 – Mind vs. Body: Where Does Anxiety Truly Originate?
0:39:06 – Recalibrating the Nervous System for Permanent Anxiety Relief
0:45:48 – The Simple System for Lasting Anxiety Freedom
0:53:23 – Daniel Packard’s Three Powerful Sticky Notes
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Join The Conversation
Find Andy Goram on LinkedIn here
Listen to the Podcast on YouTube here
Follow the Podcast on Instagram here
Follow the Podcast on Twitter here
Follow the Podcast on Facebook here
Check out the Bizjuicer website here
Get a free consultation with Andy here
Check out the Bizjuicer blog here
Download the podcast here
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Useful Links
Follow Daniel Packard on LinkedIn here
Visit danielpackard.com here
Take the free "From Stuck To Unstoppable" training here
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Full Episode Transcript
Get the full transcript of the episode here
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57:10
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57:10
Stop Trying To Fix People: Why Strengths-based Talent Management Works Better
Are traditional approaches to talent management holding your organisation back? Andy Goram is joined by Brice Jaggars, bestselling author of "Two Fish And The Tree," who challenges conventional thinking by arguing that aligning roles with people's natural strengths—rather than trying to fix their weaknesses—unlocks extraordinary performance. Brice shares why it's time to stop forcing fish to climb trees and how to practically create a workplace where people truly thrive.
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Key Takeaways
Strengths, Not Weaknesses: Organisations should focus on amplifying people's natural strengths instead of trying to fix weaknesses.
Role Alignment is Key: Poor performance often reflects misalignment between an individual's strengths and their job role, rather than incompetence.
Reimagining Soft Skills: Traditional methods of changing ingrained soft skills rarely succeed—better results come from leveraging people's inherent traits.
Impact on Engagement: Aligning roles to strengths significantly increases employee engagement, satisfaction, and productivity.
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Key Moments
The key moments in this episode are:
0:00:10 – Introduction: Is Traditional Talent Management Failing?
0:04:23 – Meet Brice Jaggars: The Man Challenging Talent Management Norms
0:07:45 – Why Fixing Weaknesses Doesn't Work
0:12:35 – The Fish and Tree Analogy Explained
0:15:40 – Why Organisations Struggle with Soft Skills
0:19:35 – The Neuroscience of Behaviour Change
0:24:56 – Implementing a Strength-Based Role Alignment Framework
0:30:23 – Uncovering Hidden Talents in Your Team
0:36:07 – Transformational Impact of Strength-Based Roles
0:41:18 – Changing Your Organisation’s Approach to Performance Management
0:42:55 – Brice Jaggars' Three Sticky Notes for Talent Management
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Join The Conversation
Find Andy Goram on LinkedIn here
Listen to the Podcast on YouTube here
Follow the Podcast on Instagram here
Follow the Podcast on Twitter here
Follow the Podcast on Facebook here
Check out the Bizjuicer website here
Get a free consultation with Andy here
Check out the Bizjuicer blog here
Download the podcast here
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Useful Links
Follow Brice Jaggars on LinkedIn here
Find Brice's book here
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Full Episode Transcript
Get the full transcript of the episode here
Sticky From The Inside is the go-to podcast for anyone looking to transform their workplace into a thriving, competition-crushing powerhouse. We’re on a mission to change the fact that 65% of employees worldwide are disengaged from their work—because that’s not just bad for business, it’s a waste of time and talent.
Each episode, we bring you dynamic conversations with global experts, thought leaders, and innovative thinkers who share their strategies, stories, and secrets for building a “Stickier Business”—a place where employees are passionate, customers are loyal, and success is the norm.
If you’re ready to boost employee engagement, create an unbeatable workplace culture, and lead with impact, tune in and discover how to build a business that people love from the inside out.
Ireland