Building Civility and Psychological Safety in the Workplace: A World Mental Health Day Focus

In this episode, host Daniella chats with Petra Agthe about the critical concepts of civility and psychological safety in workplace settings. They emphasize the importance of creating environments where team members feel safe. The discussion extends beyond clinical settings, highlighting that psychological safety is vital for any workplace, encouraging openness and genuineness. Together, they reveal strategies to foster safe, civil workspaces.

Our Guest: Petra Agthe CertVDI DipECVDI MRCVS 

Petra spent several years in general practice before completing a residency at the University of Cambridge, gaining the European Diploma in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging in 2009. She has led the imaging team at a private multidisciplinary referral centre many years before starting her position at Southern Counties in November 2024.

In addition to her clinical experience, she has also developed a strong interest in Human Factors, the non-clinical aspects that are important for high quality patient care. She is Chair of the Welfare Committee of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic imaging, an associate trainer for VetLed and host and co-founder of the Vet Mind Works Podcast.

Our Host: Daniella dos Santos BSc BVetMed FRCVS

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient on the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the animal welfare charity SPANA and the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

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Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

Vet Mind Works podcast: https://vetmindworks.buzzsprout.com/

Petra Agthe LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-agthe-562bb65b/

'Keeping It Civil' Guide by the Incivility Toolkit from the University of Aberdeen https://research.abdn.ac.uk/applied-psych-hf/vit/

Leadership development resources: https://www.leaderfactor.com/resources

Psych Safety newsletter, training and toolkits: https://psychsafety.com/newsletter/

Book recommendations:

The Fearless Organisation by Amy Edmondson

The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety by Timothy R Clark

Speak Up: Say What Needs to Be Said and Hear What Needs to Be Heard by Megan Reitz and John Higgins