Psychological Safety Training: Spot & Combat Toxicity

Toxicity at work is a creeping, insidious thing. It’s the kind of thing you don’t even realise is happening until you look back. It infiltrates workplace cultures without anyone noticing.

It creates the kind of atmosphere that kills creativity, drags down productivity and makes people – good people – leave.

It’s hard to spot. And it’s even harder to change workplaces built around cultures of toxicity.

But, with the right skills and tools it’s not impossible. And that’s what this course is about.

How to spot toxicity and make workplaces safer and kinder.

How to make workplace cultures better.

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What is toxicity?

The government calls toxicity ‘bullying and harassment’.

But this isn’t the school playground. We’re not talking about pulling hair and stealing lunch money. We’re talking about a covert, insidious thing lurking in the shadows and between the words.

It’s passive-aggressive emails and unkind criticism.

Colleagues who undermine you and steal your ideas.

Oppressive atmosphere and culture.

The feeling of dread you get every time you hear that Teams chime.

Lying in bed on a Sunday night staring at the ceiling because you’re back at work on Monday.

Toxicity breaks people. It makes them miserable. In and out of work. So people leave. They leave, or they have the creativity and joy sucked out of them.

This course arms you with the tools you need to fight toxicity. To build kinder, happier workplace cultures.

Toxicity in numbers

Here’s just how bad toxicity in the workplace really is…

61%

of employees have left a job because of workplace culture issues

Source: Oak Engage Toxic Workplace Report 2023

75%

of employees admit to having experienced a toxic culture

Source: Oak Engage Report

87%

of those say it has affected their mental health

Source: Oak Engage Report

1040%

is how much more likely employees are to leave a toxic workplace

Source: Sloan Review, MIT

What is psychological safety?

Psychological safety is about being your best, authentic self, without masking, hiding or censoring.

It’s about creating a culture of trust and belonging, where people listen, collaborate and work in teams easily and comfortably. Even when things get challenging. Especially when things get challenging.

In a psychologically safe workplace culture, people do their best work, communicate effectively, learn from each other and grow together as a team.

Who are we?

We’re the Psychological Safety Institute.

We were set up after our founder, Gina, had some horrid experiences, in two different jobs. One of those jobs dealt with it really well. The other… Not so much.

Gina saw an opportunity to make a difference. A chance to make workplaces happier, safer places.

So, that’s what we do. We help businesses make their workplaces safer. We give them the tools to get rid of damaging toxic cultures and behaviours.

And, we train individuals to make a difference. We give you the tools to change cultures.

That’s where this course comes in.

What do people say about the course?

“Love seeing the 8 Levels and Pillars as the conceptual framework. What a great guiding tool to be able to understand and learn about and use in everyday practice.”

“I can use this knowledge to help me have better conversations with Learning and Development Directors/Managers who are invested in programmes to support their staff.”

“WORTH GETTING UP AT 4.30AM FOR!”

“You need to make the course longer!! This is SOOO fascinating and I want to know everything!!”

“Gina is certainly living and breathing the principles of psychological safety and really works to include everyone. I appreciate the discussions! The content is great and Gina responds well to all questions with her expertise and insights.”

“The Hierarchy of the Levels really helped my understanding that speaking up is a facet of psychological safety but it is not it’s entirety and cannot be encouraged until Level one is addressed (self, awareness and training).”

“Developing your people, spending time getting to know how people learn, thrive, personalities, energies etc is so valuable! We need to go beyond surface level solutions, dig in and talk about things that matter. The business Case for Psychological Safety is massive!”

What do I learn on the course?

You learn how to change workplace cultures, for the better. How to make them kinder and safer so people can be their best, authentic selves. And you learn how to spot toxicity, and how to combat it.

You learn how to make a difference.

That might mean leading your team better. It might mean dealing with organisational toxicity better.

But you’ll make a real, quantifiable difference, to real people.

So how does it work?

That sounds like a lot – and to be honest, it is. But don’t worry. We break it down into four sessions, and you get plenty of resources and support to make sure you digest everything.

Mastering the essentials

You need to walk before you can run. So, we spend some time going over the core concepts of psychological safety. You learn how to talk about how important it is, and the effect it’s having in your workplace.

Workplace dynamics

You explore the ways authenticity, personality and power shape the interactions in your workplace. We go through case studies and learn how to transform conflict into collaboration.

Tackling toxicity

You work on identifying toxic behaviours, using our unique five levels of culture IP. And, you get practical, repeatable strategies to make a happier, safer workplace.

Driving meaningful change

You get powerful diagnostic tools and frameworks to help you build a business case for change in your organisation. And we spend time exploring how to influence organisational priorities, too.

And why is this course so special?

Good question, glad you asked.

It’s special because there’s nothing else out there that gives you anything like the same level of detail about psychological safety.

It’s special because it’s the only course (that we know of) that does CPD accredited training specifically tailored for businesses.

And it’s special because of our approach to organisational psychological safety.

We focus on giving you the tools and the knowledge to create genuine culture change in your organisation at an individual level.

That means there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. You won’t come away with a simple sticking-plaster solution you can apply to any organisation.

You have to work hard to reach the potential of what you learn on this course. But if you do, you’ll make real, genuine changes to your team culture.

Who is the course for?

First up, you need to have a genuine desire to make workplaces better. You need to care.

Because this course is a big investment, and it’s hard work. And that’s just the start. The hard work really starts when you start changing things.

And you need to be in a position to change things to get the most out of it. That’s not to say you need to be a CEO or head of HR (although you could be). But you need to have some autonomy and flexibility in the way you lead.

We’ve had great success working with folk in roles like these.

Leaders and managers
People and culture directors
HR and EDI professionals
Employee experience and engagement leaders
Training and development pros
Organisational development consultants
Change management gurus
Independent consultants and trainers
Aspiring trainers or facilitators of psychological safety

Now, that’s not to say you have to be in one of those groups. And if you’re not sure whether it’ll work for you, Gina’s happy to have a chat before you commit.

How does it run?

We want the course to work for you. So, we’ve done everything we can to make it accessible. And, if you have specific accessibility needs that aren’t covered, let us know, we’ll make it work.

Where does it happen?

Your learning will take place over a series of Zoom calls. That means you don’t need to travel. But, it’s important you’re set up for video calls, with a camera and a microphone.

Do I need to attend every session?

Yes. To complete the course and get your CPD points, you must attend every session. Check the dates carefully, and if there are any you can’t make, a later cohort might be best.

That said, if you have an emergency and you can’t make a session, let us know and we’ll sort something.

Can’t I just watch the recording?

Nope. It’s not that kind of course. To get the full benefit, you need to be active and engaged. This isn’t the kind of course you can just sit at the back and hope no one notices you.

What are the sessions?

You start with an hour-long orientation call. Then, over the next four weeks, you have four three-hour sessions, and a final one-hour session to wrap things up. You have ten hours of independent tasks to complete too, for a total of 24 hours.

When do the sessions take place?

Orientation call
20 Jan 2025: 1pm-2pm GMT
Session 1: An Introduction to Psychological Safety
27 Jan 2025: 1pm-4pm GMT
Session 2: Enhancing Workplace Dynamics
3 Feb 2025: 1pm-4pm GMT
Session 3: Identifying and Addessing Toxicity
10 Feb 2025: 1pm-4pm GMT
Session 4: Transforming Workplace Culture
17 Feb 2025: 1pm-4pm GMT
Closing call
24 Feb 2025: 1pm-2pm GMT

This sounds great. Can you sum it up?

Of course. Here’s the course in a nutshell.

What exactly do I get?

You get 24 hours of psychological safety education. A little over half is group learning and the rest is individual tasks.

That’s 14 hours of live, in-person training delivered over Zoom, and ten hours of homework. And, we promise none of it is boring.

At the end, you get 24 CPD credits. You also get the knowledge, skills and tools to make workplaces happier and safer.

Will it help my career?

More than likely.

You get the skills and confidence to deal with toxic behaviours and make workplace culture safer and happier.

And, you’ll be certified by the Psychological Safety Institute as a Champion, so people know you’re a leader who’s dedicated to making safe and inclusive workplaces.

Then, if you want more, you can qualify to be a Certified Trainer for the Institute. That doesn’t just give you more knowledge. It positions you as a key influencer in your organisation and beyond.

Remember though – this course isn’t just about improving your career. It’s about making better workplaces for everyone.

What materials will the course use?

We use resources we’ve developed ourselves to teach this course.

Why?

Because we couldn’t find anything else good enough.

You get access to our diagnostic tools and unique methodologies so you can identify and fix psychological safety problems.

And you can use the resources as you see fit, in consulting, HR or leadership roles.

So why have you made this course?

That’s a good question. But, we have a good answer.

Our founder, Gina, had some horrific experiences at a couple of different workplaces.

First up, when she was 22, Gina was stalked. Which was, obviously, a nightmare. But the way she was supported at work was a masterclass in positivity. Despite everything, she felt safe – psychologically, physically and mentally.

A couple of years later. Gina switched jobs. To a workplace where she was bullied by a controlling, manipulative manager for being gay. And when she complained? The manager was promoted and Gina was told to drop it.

Quite the contrast.

And the scariest thing is, stories like Gina’s aren’t even rare.

Three-quarters of UK employees admit to having experienced a toxic workplace. And 87% of them agree it’s affected their mental health.

That’s a lot of people.

And that’s what encouraged Gina to develop her own methodology for psychological safety, set up the Psychological Safety Institute and create this course.

Since then, Gina’s advised the BBC and ITV on psychological safety. She’s been featured in places like Sky News, BBC, Forbes, Fast Company, Medium, CEO Magazine and People Management.

And she’s making a difference by training people to create safer workplaces.

Let’s do it!

Ready to transform toxic workplaces together? Book your spot today.

Psychological Safety Champions Course: Available today

£1,800 One-off payment. Includes VAT.

Certified Psychological Safety Champion
Earn CPD accreditation (24 credits)
Eliminate toxicity in the workplace
Transform team and organisational culture
Learn from the leading global training provider
Access the PSI’s leading diagnostic tools
Future trainer certification opportunities

Still not sure it’s for you?

We get it. It’s a big commitment. But you’ve come this far.

Why not chat to Gina about the course?

We promise, no hard sell. But Gina is happy to answer your questions about the course.

Plus, she loves a chat.

And, if you change your mind, we have a 14-day cooling-off period. That means a full refund, no questions asked.

Not up for the live sessions?

If you can’t commit to the full-fat course, don’t worry. We have a semi-skimmed option.

We call it our Foundations Course.

You won’t get the live tuition and discussion. And you won’t get the CPD points. But, you will still get invaluable knowledge to help you kick toxicity into touch.

Psychological Safety Foundations Course: Available today

£495 One-off payment. Includes VAT.

On-demand video content
Self-paced learning
Learn from the leading global training provider
Access the PSI’s leading diagnostic tools

FAQs

Still got questions? No probs. Let’s get them answered. And if they’re not covered here, you can always book a call with Gina.

What is the Psychological Safety Institute?

We’re the global authority on psychological safety. We work with multinational organisations to change workplace cultures and get rid of workplace toxicity. And we’d love to work with you, too.

How often does this course run?

Three or four times a year, depending on demand.

How many people will I be learning with?

There’ll be at least three people in every cohort, but no more than twelve.

Why?

Because fewer than three is boring, and more than twelve is too crowded.

Do I really have to attend every session?

Yep. If you want to be a Champion and get CPD credits, you need to do the whole course. Plus, it’s brilliant so why wouldn’t you want to?

But, if you have an emergency mid-course and need to miss a session, we’ll figure something out. Usually, that means doing the session(s) you’ve missed with the next cohort, a few months later.

What’s CPD accreditation?

CPD is Continuing Professional Development. The CPD Certification Service is an independent global professional membership body that’s been around for 25 years. They assess the quality of training all over the world and in pretty much every industry.

Our Champions course is CPD Certification Service accredited. That’s proof you’ve done proper, regulated learning.

Is there a next level?

There are several.

This is the level one course. We go all the way up to level four.

Now that’s not to say this is a beginners course. It’s not. It’s in-depth and detailed. If you want to be an advocate for psychological safety in the workplace, it might well be all you need.

It’s enough to change lives.

But if you want to go deep and make a career out of psychological safety training then we can help you get there.

What are the other levels?

Level two will make you a certified trainer. That means you can deliver our training sessions to businesses.

Level three will set you up to independently diagnose and transform toxic cultures with your own clients.

And level four will make you a master trainer at the Psychological Safety Institute.

Is this course accessible?

We’ve designed the course to be as accessible as we can. But if it doesn’t work for you, get in touch and we’ll do our best to make it work for you.