August 7, 2025 | Barb Carr

3 Ways Great Leaders Harness the Psychology of Improvement

Strong leadership isn’t about having all the answers, but it is about knowing how to bring out the best in others. The most effective leaders understand the psychology of improvement. Here are three ways you can use that knowledge to elevate your leadership.

1. Lead With Curiosity, Not Assumptions.

Isn’t it funny how we think “knowing the right thing to say” is the key to relationships? Being a good listener is much more important! Better listening skills are achievable for everyone. Ask more questions and listen to the answers before jumping to solutions. Try it when you are walking through your facility. Here are a few questions to ask:

What do you see from your side that you might be missing?
What slows you down the most?
What’s one idea you’ve been thinking about but haven’t shared?
What skills would you like to build?

Even if they don’t have an answer right away, they will remember you cared enough to ask. Hint: Some workers prefer asynchronous communication over real-time communication. If they don’t have an answer, let them know alternative ways to contact you after they’ve thought about it (like email or text). This lets them know you value their input.

2. Model the Behaviors You Want to See.

If you are doing one thing but saying another, workers are quick to notice! Culture starts at the top. Make sure you are practicing the behaviors you want others to practice. Here are some examples:

Follow safety protocols. Always wear the required PPE.
Speak up about hazards. If you don’t, you are sending a message that you are willing to accept the risks.
Own your mistakes. This is a big one! Share what went wrong, what you learned, and how you’ll improve.

By modeling these behaviors, you demonstrate integrity, build trust, and create a culture where accountability and safety are non-negotiable.

3. Empower, Don’t Micromanage.

If you hire people for their skills, let them use them. Give people ownership of outcomes and watch their performance grow. Autonomy means so much more than avoiding that suffocating feeling of being micromanaged. Workers see autonomy as a sign that leadership has confidence in their skills and judgment. It feels empowering when they’re given the space to make decisions without micromanagement. Autonomy allows individuals to use their strengths, manage their pace, and tailor their approach, leading to better outcomes and less frustration.

When you lead with curiosity, model the right behaviors, and give people the freedom to do their best work, you’re not only improving performance, you’re building a strong work culture. These aren’t one-time actions but daily habits that compound over time. The more consistently you practice them, the more your team will mirror them, creating a workplace where people feel valued, motivated, and empowered to contribute at their highest level.

That’s the real psychology of improvement in action!

Go Deeper Into How the Psychology of Improvement Shapes the Workplace

If you’re ready to strengthen the “human” skills that drive workplace success, the Psychology of Improvement Track at this year’s Global TapRooT® Summit is your ticket. This immersive track dives into the science and practice of what makes people tick – and how you can use that knowledge to build stronger teams, inspire change, and boost results across your organization.

Whether you lead a department, manage a project, or contribute as part of a team, you’ll walk away with strategies you can apply immediately – no matter where you are in your career. Expect to sharpen your emotional intelligence, communication, adaptability, and influence so you can connect better, lead smarter, and create positive momentum in your workplace.

Here’s what’s in store:

NEW SESSION: How Could I Have Been So Stupid? with Ralph Brickey – Explore some of the serious design flaws in our Human Operating System that enable us to make mistakes.
NEW SESSION: Decoding Risk: A Leader’s Playbook for Building Cognitive Readiness with Gary Aucoin, CSP, and Felipe Gastaldo – Close the gap between your procedures and real-world performance.
NEW SESSION: Emotional Oxygen: Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork with Vince Vincek – Cultivate empathy and strengthen team relationships.
Training Beyond the Mistake with Erika Armstrong – Learn to focus on root causes, not blame, and build a learning-driven environment.
Safety Leadership to Foster Performance Improvement with Heidi Reed – Equip yourself with tools that turn safety into a performance driver.
Psychology of Human Error with Dr. Ralph Blessing – Understand cognitive biases and error patterns so you can prevent costly mistakes.
Work Smarter, Learn Faster: The Power of Learning at Work with Michelle Wishoun – Discover how to leverage learning preferences for growth and retention.
Diverse Brilliance: Management and Success Tips for Neurodiverse Teams with Barb Carr – Build inclusive environments that spark innovation and productivity.
From Stress to Success: Fostering Psychological Safety with Barb Carr – Support well-being while boosting productivity.

By the end of the Summit, you’ll have more than theories; you’ll have practical tools, new perspectives, and the confidence to put them into action. You’ll know how to reduce human error, strengthen trust, and create a culture where people and performance thrive.