How to Create Psychological Safety at Events

Psychological safety is something that is most often talked about in the context of workplace culture. But it’s also an experience that can be created in other settings, with many of the same benefits.

In our 2025 trend report, we explored the rise of experientialism and how the MICE industry has seen a significant increase in events and experiences that are human-centred. There’s a growing need amongst attendees for experiences that leave them feeling more connected, enlightened and transformed, and psychological safety can play a big part in this.

Goc O’Callaghan, an expert in experientialism and the experience economy, shared that: “Events and experiences designed with people in mind to foster a sense of community provide psychological safety, which encourages participation, collaboration, and inclusivity. (...) With a sense of belonging and the psychological safety to participate, events and experiences will have a higher perceived

value by their attendees.”

In this article, we explore what psychological safety involves, how to build psychological safety at your events, and the potential impact that this could have on attendee experience.

Psychological safety refers to the belief that individuals can speak up, ask questions, make mistakes, and express ideas without fear of negative consequences. The concept was first introduced by Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson, who defined it as "a shared belief held by members of a team that the team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking."

In an event context, creating psychological safety means that attendees feel comfortable participating authentically without worrying about judgment, exclusion, or retaliation. This creates an environment where people can engage more deeply with content, connect genuinely with others, and contribute their unique perspectives.

The components of psychological safety can be summarised in three key areas: respect for diverse viewpoints, permission to fail and learn, and encouragement of open communication. These elements work together to create a culture where vulnerability is seen as strength rather than weakness, and where people feel that they can make suggestions and share ideas knowing that they won’t be met with criticism. 

Events represent unique social environments where strangers gather to learn, network, and collaborate within compressed timeframes. Without building psychological safety, many attendees default to passive observation rather than active participation which limits both individual learning outcomes and the collective value generated by the group.

Research consistently shows that psychologically safe environments boost creativity and innovation. When attendees feel psychologically safe, they're more likely to ask thoughtful questions, share personal experiences, and take creative risks in collaborative activities. This is particularly valuable at industry conferences where breakthrough thinking often emerges from diverse perspectives colliding in unexpected ways.

The networking aspect of events also benefits significantly from psychological safety and trust. Attendees who feel comfortable being authentic are more likely to form genuine professional relationships rather than superficial connections. These deeper relationships often lead to meaningful collaborations, mentorship opportunities, and long-term business partnerships that extend far beyond the event itself.

From a business perspective, events that feel like a strong psychologically safe space tend to generate higher return on investment. Events that successfully cultivate psychological safety also often see increased engagement, more meaningful connections, and higher attendee satisfaction scores.

Attendees who feel valued and heard are also more likely to return to future events, recommend the experience to colleagues, and engage positively with event sponsors. This creates a virtuous cycle where psychological safety directly contributes to event success and organisational reputation. 

Now that you’ve learned about the positive impact that creating psychological safety can have on attendee experience and brand reputation, we’re going to share some of the best ways that you can facilitate this for your own events. 

The physical environment plays a crucial role in building psychological safety before any conversations begin. The layout, lighting, and accessibility of event spaces send immediate signals about whether all attendees are truly welcome.

Consider accessibility needs beyond basic compliance requirements. This includes providing quiet spaces for introverts to recharge, ensuring adequate lighting for those with visual impairments, and offering multiple seating options to accommodate different physical needs.

Thoughtful design choices can eliminate barriers and create conditions where everyone feels included from the moment they arrive. Small details like clear signage, multiple pathways through spaces, and varied seating arrangements demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity and can instantly help attendees feel more comfortable and considered.

Technology choices also play a part in how to improve psychological safety. Ensure that digital platforms are user-friendly across different skill levels and device types.

Provide technical support and clear instructions to prevent technology barriers from becoming participation barriers. Consider offering both digital and analogue options for key activities to accommodate different comfort levels and preferences. 

Another important part of helping to create psychological safety is transparency about event structure, objectives, and behavioural expectations, which allows attendees to understand how to participate successfully.

Clear communication reduces anxiety and allows people to prepare mentally for different types of interactions. This is particularly important for events featuring small group work, peer feedback, or public speaking opportunities.

• Establish ground rules collaboratively rather than imposing them unilaterally.
• Invite attendees to contribute to community agreements about respectful communication, confidentiality, and inclusive behaviour.
• Make sure that you address potential challenges proactively rather than reactively.
• Explain how sensitive topics will be handled, what support resources are available, and how conflicts will be resolved.

This preparation demonstrates organisational competence and gives attendees confidence that their well-being is being prioritised. By ensuring that everyone is on the same page to begin with about how to communicate and how discussion will be handled, you remove hesitation or confusion around doing something ‘wrong’ and instantly put everyone at ease.

Regular check-ins and reminders help maintain psychological safety as group dynamics evolve throughout the event. Consider appointing session facilitators who can reinforce ground rules and model inclusive behaviour during breakout activities.

Not everyone contributes to discussions in the same way, and psychological safety requires acknowledging and accommodating different communication styles. Extroverts may thrive in large group discussions, while introverts often prefer written reflection or small group conversations.

Offering diverse participation options is essential in knowing how to build psychological safety and ensures that all attendees can engage authentically.

Digital tools can expand participation opportunities significantly and are particularly valuable for addressing sensitive topics or gathering honest feedback about controversial issues. Anonymous polling, digital whiteboards, and chat functions allow attendees to contribute ideas without the pressure of public speaking.

Structured activities like small group rotations, peer interviews, or collaborative problem-solving create safer spaces for participation than open floor discussions. These formats provide clear roles and expectations while reducing the risk of domination by more vocal participants.

You could also consider offering pre-event opportunities for attendees to submit questions, suggest topics, or share relevant experiences. This allows people to contribute meaningfully even if they struggle with spontaneous participation, and also helps event organisers identify important themes so they can prepare more inclusive content.

Questions are fundamental to learning, but many attendees hesitate to ask them for fear of appearing uninformed or interrupting the flow of presentations. Creating a culture where questions are genuinely welcomed requires intentional effort from both organisers and speakers, but is a key part of how to develop psychological safety.

Normalise asking different types of questions at your event, from clarifying basic concepts to challenging fundamental assumptions. Acknowledge that good questions often reveal gaps in understanding that many people share.

As we’ve already touched on, you could provide multiple channels for questions to accommodate different comfort levels. Some attendees prefer asking questions publicly, while others feel safer submitting them anonymously or discussing them in small groups first.

Train speakers and facilitators to handle challenging questions gracefully. This includes acknowledging when they don't know something, redirecting inappropriate questions without embarrassing the asker, and maintaining respect for diverse viewpoints even during disagreements.

When speakers respond to questions with genuine enthusiasm rather than defensiveness, it encourages continued participation. Therefore, make sure any speakers are briefed on the kind of responses you’re looking to model at your event, so that this contributes to making a psychologically safe space. 

Feedback serves dual purposes in creating psychologically safe events. It helps organisers improve the experience, while also giving attendees agency in shaping their environment.

However, effective feedback systems require careful design to ensure that people feel comfortable sharing honest perspectives without fear of consequences. You need to create both formal and informal feedback mechanisms throughout the event, not just at the end.

Regular pulse checks allow for real-time adjustments and demonstrate responsiveness to attendee needs. This might include brief surveys after each session, informal conversations during breaks, or designated feedback ambassadors who can collect input discreetly.

Ensure that feedback collection is genuinely anonymous when promised, as failing to do so will really ruin any sense of psychological safety. Many attendees have experienced situations where supposedly anonymous feedback was traced back to them, creating lasting reluctance to share honest opinions.

You also need to make sure that you respond to feedback transparently, even when the response is that no changes will be made. Acknowledge what was heard, explain any constraints that prevent immediate action, and describe how the input will influence future planning. This closes the feedback loop and demonstrates that attendee voices genuinely matter.

Our final suggestion for how to develop psychological safety at events is to keep measuring and improving your efforts.

Regular assessment helps identify areas where safety may be compromised and opportunities for improvement. This measurement should encompass both objective indicators and subjective experiences.

Develop metrics that capture different dimensions of psychological safety, from participation rates and question frequency to attendee satisfaction and retention. Look for patterns in who participates versus who remains silent, which topics generate engagement versus avoidance, and how different demographic groups experience the event environment.

Post-event reflection should involve both attendees and staff. One example of this is debrief sessions, which can reveal insights that surveys might miss, particularly around interpersonal dynamics and cultural factors that influence safety.

Use insights about psychological safety and trust from previous events to inform venue selection, speaker briefings, and program design. This creates a continuous improvement cycle where each event becomes safer and more inclusive than the last. 

Psychological safety has the potential to transform events from mere information exchanges into powerful platforms for human connection and collective growth. When attendees feel secure enough to bring their authentic selves to the experience, the entire event community benefits from richer discussions, deeper relationships, and more innovative thinking.

As the events industry continues to mature, psychological safety will likely become an expected standard rather than a differentiating feature. Organisations that begin implementing these practices now will be better positioned to meet evolving attendee expectations and create the meaningful experiences that drive lasting business value.

The strategies outlined above to help create psychological safety require intentional planning and ongoing commitment. But the investment pays dividends in attendee satisfaction, engagement, and long-term loyalty.

Ultimately, psychological safety at events reflects broader values about human dignity, inclusion, and the belief that everyone has something valuable to contribute. Events that embody these principles create ripple effects that extend far beyond the immediate gathering, influencing how attendees approach collaboration and communication in their professional lives.

Key takeaways

• Psychological safety enhances attendee experience and event value: When attendees feel safe to participate authentically without fear of judgment, it leads to deeper engagement, more meaningful connections, and a higher perceived value of the event.
• Intentional design of inclusive spaces is crucial: The physical and technological environment of an event plays a significant role in fostering psychological safety.
• Clear expectations and multiple participation options empower attendees: Transparent ground rules, collaborative community agreements, and offering diverse ways for attendees to contribute.
• Encouraging open dialogue and graceful handling of questions is key: Creating a culture where questions are genuinely welcomed and speakers are trained to respond with enthusiasm and respect for diverse viewpoints promotes a psychologically safe environment for learning and discussion.
• Continuous measurement and improvement of safety are essential for long-term success: Regularly assessing psychological safety through feedback mechanisms and using insights to inform future event planning helps create a continuous improvement cycle.

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