A weekly note by The Happiness Club
This week we want to do a dive into the psychological safety baseline that we are starting our journey from.
We believe we must first listen to where it is missing, before we can build safety. That was the heart of the two surveys that we ran over the past weeks – one among government employees, and another across communities and workplaces as part of our Year of Psychological Safety 2026 Initiative.
What we heard was both sobering and hopeful.
The Quiet Cost of Fear
Across both surveys, nearly two-thirds of respondents said they sometimes hold back their ideas for fear of being misunderstood or judged. More than half said they hesitate to speak up when they see a problem – not because they don’t care, but because they worry it might “backfire.”
In one response, a participant wrote:
“We are told to be open, but when we are, it becomes a problem.”
That line says so much. It speaks of intent without safety, of systems without soul.
Yet, beneath that hesitation lies something precious – a deep desire for progress. Most participants said they want to share more ideas, want to take more initiative, and want leaders who listen with empathy, not ego.
When Energy Shifts, Everything Shifts
During a recent VibeShift session, a participants said something that stayed with me:
“When we started the session, the room felt heavy. But once we paused, smiled, and truly listened, even silence felt different.”
That’s the moment psychological safety begins – not when policies change, but when energy changes. When people stop defending and start contributing.
What the surveys revealed in numbers, the participants showed in spirit: when people feel seen, they show up differently. They don’t just follow; they lift.
Listening Is the First Step to Healing
If there is one message from this baseline, it is this: people care. They want to do better work, serve with pride, and speak with honesty. They are just waiting for safety to arrive – for someone to say, “It’s okay, you can tell me the truth.”
In every office, school, island office, and ward, the rhythm is the same: energy → trust → progress.
That’s why we call for 2026 to be the Year of Psychological Safety – to turn that rhythm into our national advantage.
A Smile Note
This week, before you ask for feedback, soften your tone. Before you correct, pause to connect. And before you decide, invite one more voice into the circle. You may be surprised how much courage lives in quiet corners.
When it’s safe to speak, it becomes possible to heal. When it’s safe to belong, it becomes possible to grow.
Smile and let smile. #RhythmsOfSafety #PsychologicalSafety #LiftCulture #VibeShift
Smile and Let Smile 