WEBINAR | GYST LEARNING SERIES
Identifying Barriers
to Psychological Safety
24 September 2026 at 5:00 AM AEST
Most leaders genuinely want people to ask questions, raise concerns and speak openly. Yet despite those good intentions, many organisations continue to struggle to create environments where people consistently feel safe to do so.
In this session, Psychologist Jamie Toth, will explore the often-overlooked factors that quietly shape psychological safety in everyday workplaces. Drawing on current research and more than two decades of consulting experience, Jamie will examine why well-intentioned leaders can unintentionally create experiences that discourage people from speaking up, and how everyday interactions become valuable organisational signals that reveal whether trust is growing or beginning to erode.
Rather than focusing on communication techniques alone, this session will challenge leaders to develop a deeper understanding of what people may be experiencing beneath the surface.
Participants will discover that effective leadership depends not only on the amount of information available, but more importantly on how well that information is understood.
What You'll Learn
Understand the factors that commonly strengthen or undermine psychological safety in everyday workplaces
The ability to recognise organisational signals that indicate whether people genuinely feel safe to speak up, contribute ideas and raise concerns
Use a simple conversational approach that helps leaders move beyond assumptions by seeking understanding before responding
Practical strategies that can be applied immediately to build greater trust, improve learning and encourage more open and productive conversations
Speaker
Jamie Toth
Psychologist
Jamie is a highly experienced psychologist and trusted advisor to leaders, bringing over 30 years of expertise across clinical and organisational psychology. For 14 years, he has specialised in helping organisations build high-trust cultures, strengthen leadership and drive psychological safety.
His work spans high-risk industries, including mining, construction, transport, utilities and manufacturing, as well as service organisations and other complex workplace environments, where he advises executives and boards, facilitates leadership development and delivers executive coaching.
Host
Steve Pettit
GYST Managing Director
Steve Pettit is the Managing Director of GYST, working with leaders across 25 countries to build cultures where psychological safety is the foundation of how work actually gets done, not just a compliance checkbox.
With a background spanning education, health, and executive leadership, Steve brings a rare combination of emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, and real-world experience facilitating cultural transformation in high-risk environments. His leadership philosophy is simple: great leadership isn't about having all the answers, it's about creating the conditions where others can find them.
