Organizational Psychological Safety Diagnostic Framework

Systems-Based | Measurable | Action-Oriented


1. Purpose

The Staying Human Psychological Safety Diagnostic is a structured evaluation tool designed to assess:

  • Cultural stability
  • Leadership behaviors
  • Structural transparency
  • Conflict patterns
  • Power distribution
  • Alignment between stated values and lived experience

It is not a sentiment survey.
It is a systems-level diagnostic.


The 6-Domain Model

Each domain is scored across a 1–5 maturity scale.

LevelDescription
1 Reactive / Fear-Based
2 Inconsistent / Personality-Driven
3 Stable but FragileStable but Fragile
4 Structurally EmbeddedStructurally Embedded
5 Regenerative / Self-CorrectingRegenerative / Self-Correcting

Domain 1: Structural Transparency

Measures:

  • Clarity of decision-making processes
  • Budget visibility
  • Information accessibility
  • Communication pathways

Key Diagnostic Questions:

  • Do employees understand how decisions are made?
  • Is financial information appropriately transparent?
  • Are strategic priorities communicated clearly?
  • Is dissent punished or processed?

Domain 2: Power & Authority Dynamics

Measures:

  • Use of positional power
  • Psychological safety in upward feedback
  • Authority without humiliation
  • Consistency of accountability

Diagnostic Indicators:

  • Leaders invite correction.
  • Feedback does not result in retaliation.
  • Policies apply consistently across hierarchy.

Domain 3: Conflict Integrity

Measures:

  • Response to disagreement
  • Mediation structures
  • Informal influence vs formal process
  • Emotional regulation in leadership

Red Flags:

  • Avoidance culture
  • Silent retaliation
  • Weaponized policy
  • Public shaming masked as “accountability”

Domain 4: Inclusion & Belonging

Measures:

  • Psychological inclusion across status levels
  • Safety to speak in meetings
  • Treatment of dissenters
  • Treatment of marginalized voices

Core Question:
Is belonging conditional?


Domain 5: Relational Leadership Capacity

Measures:

  • Self-regulation before response
  • Consistency between values and behavior
  • Humility in authority
  • Capacity for repair

This domain evaluates leader nervous system maturity — not personality style.


Domain 6: Cultural Alignment Integrity

Measures:

  • Alignment between mission and practice
  • Symbolic language vs operational reality
  • Integrity of culture branding

Critical Indicator:
Does the organization live what it promotes externally?


Diagnostic Delivery Model

You can offer three tiers:

Tier 1: Anonymous Staff Survey (Quantitative)

  • 40–60 scored items
  • Domain-specific scoring
  • Executive summary report

Tier 2: Leadership Interviews (Qualitative)

  • Structured interview guide
  • Thematic mapping
  • Pattern analysis

Tier 3: Systems Audit & Alignment Report

  • Full culture health score
  • Risk map
  • Stability index
  • Strategic recommendations

Deliverables to Organizations

  1. Domain-by-domain scoring dashboard
  2. Heat map of risk zones
  3. Culture maturity index
  4. Board-ready executive summary
  5. 90-day stabilization roadmap