Why Your Team Won’t Speak Up (And How to Fix It)

Why Your Team Won’t Speak Up (And How to Fix It)

From HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

April 28, 2026 · 32 min · Episode 1076

About this episode

Charles Duhigg discusses how leaders can foster an environment of psychological safety and open communication within teams.

Many senior leaders say they want an organization filled with psychological safety and candor, but they often act in ways that are counterproductive to that goal. Charles Duhigg, an author and researcher, has looked deeply into the secrets of good communication, and says there are specific things leaders can do to improve their relationships at work, and thus the culture of the organization. He shares practical, research-backed strategies for building teams where people feel safe to challenge ideas, raise concerns, and contribute openly, from “ostentatious listening” to structuring meetings so every voice is heard. Duhigg wrote the book Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection.

People in this episode

Guest: Charles Duhigg

Topics covered

  • psychological safety
  • communication
  • leadership
  • team dynamics
  • organizational culture

Keywords

  • psychological safety
  • communication strategies
  • leadership
  • team culture
  • organizational behavior

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Harvard Business Review

Books & works: Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection

More episodes of HBR IdeaCast

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the HBR IdeaCast podcast page.