Is work supposed to be a safe space or a performance space?
That was the debate at the SHRM Executive Network Visionaries Conference when Jackson Lynch sat down with SHRM CEO Johnny Taylor.
In this episode of the Talent Sherpa Podcast, Jackson takes that conversation deeper, unpacking why leaders have confused psychological safety with comfort, and why that mistake is quietly eroding performance.
Real safety matters. Every employee deserves freedom from harassment, retaliation, and bias.
But when safety becomes shorthand for protection from discomfort, tough feedback, or accountability, organizations lose their edge. Leaders start pulling punches.
Teams lower standards. And mediocrity sneaks in under the banner of psychological safety.
This episode lays out a sharper distinction between comfort and safety, with stories from the Seattle Seahawks and the U.S. military, plus practical steps for building a culture where candor fuels performance.
Three Key Takeaways:
Practical Advice:
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00:00 - 00:54 The Tension Between Safety and Performance
00:54 - 02:27 Discussion at SHRM Executive Network Visionaries Conference
02:27 - 04:04 Examples of High-Accountability but Human First Cultures
04:04 - 05:47 Blurring the Line Between Comfort and Safety
05:47 - 08:07 Practical Steps to Build High-Performance Cultures
08:07 - 10:44 Talent Sherpa Key Takeaways
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