Psychological Safety in Remote Work: Influencing Factors for Information Technology Professionals
Abstract
The concept of psychological safety (PS) involves different dimensions influenced by context, interpersonal relationships, and the individual experiences of workers. This construct is a critical aspect of remote environments, as it allows team members to take interpersonal risks amid evolving work dynamics impacted by technology and the COVID-19 pandemic. This research analyzes the factors influencing PS, specifically variables related to organizational practices, leadership relationships, interpersonal dynamics, and individual traits. The study adopts a qualitative methodology and a thematic analysis to obtain comprehensive results, incorporating semi-structured interviews with IT project workers operating in remote environments. The findings emphasize the multifaceted nature of PS, with supportive organizational practices, open leadership, effective communication strategies, and a strong sense of collectivism emerging as crucial factors. The influence of organizational diversity strategies outweighs that of individual personality traits, highlighting the need to address this aspect to better understand workers' perceptions of PS.
Keywords: psychological safety, remote work, qualitative research, information technology workers.
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