#139 – Unlocking Leadership Excellence through Psychological Safety with Kelly Meerbott

AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP, Podcast

From coaching a four-star general to navigating a toxic corporate culture where retaliation, exclusion, and silencing were part of daily life, Kelly Meerbott has seen leadership at its most extreme. Just like most leaders and employees, she has experienced what it feels like when ideas are dismissed, confidence erodes, and fear quietly takes over the workplace.

Kelly’s journey shows how the absence of psychological safety can crush potential and morale, and how fostering it can transform teams, spark innovation, and bring out the very best in people. Her story proves that when leaders prioritize trust, empathy, and open communication, extraordinary results are possible.

On this episode of The Workplace Communication Podcast, we’re talking with Kelly Meerbott, Award-Winning Executive Coach and Founder at You – Loud & Clear, about unlocking leadership excellence through psychological safety. Kelly shares practical strategies for leaders to foster trust, empathy, and open communication, and explores the personal and organizational barriers that often prevent teams from thriving.

Leadership tips you won’t want to miss:

️ Fostering team dialogue by asking what employees need to feel psychologically safe

️ Creating shared agreements to hold your team accountable to safety standards

️ Modeling self-awareness and personal healing to strengthen leadership presence

️ Maintaining personal control in conflict with calm, deliberate communication

️ Documenting interactions meticulously to navigate unsafe environments effectively

Kelly Meerbott, PCC, CBTI, is an award-winning executive coach who helps high-level leaders harness emotional intelligence to unlock their fullest potential. Through transformational coaching, Kelly fosters psychological safety and empowers leaders to create inclusive, high-performing cultures.

If you’re looking to cultivate trust, resilience, and high-performing teams, then this episode is for you!

If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe and leave a review.

Listen to the episode here: https://lindsaylapaquette.com/podcast/

For a full written transcript of the episode, please see the show notes at the link above.

Kelly’s contact information:

Website

Lindsay’s contact information:

To book a discovery call

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Lindsay Lapaquette

Lindsay Lapaquette, M.Sc.(A) works with middle managers who want to communicate authentically so they can effectively lead their teams without losing themselves. As a former Speech-Language Pathologist, Lindsay applies her expertise in the neuroscience of communication and connection to help managers foster an environment of trust and respect in their teams, so that everyone can bring their best selves to work.

Lindsay’s approach has been profoundly influenced by her work with Indigenous organizations, her experience as a parent to two neurodivergent children, and the premature loss of both of her parents. These experiences have taught Lindsay great lessons about the power of excellent people skills that extend well beyond her professional expertise.

Lindsay Lapaquette

Lindsay Lapaquette, M.Sc.(A) works with middle managers who want to communicate authentically so they can effectively lead their teams without losing themselves. As a former Speech Language Pathologist, Lindsay applies her expertise in the neuroscience of communication and connection to help managers foster an environment of trust and respect in their teams, so that everyone can bring their best selves to work.

Lindsay’s approach has been profoundly influenced by her work with First Nations organizations, her experience as a parent to two children with pervasive mental health challenges, and the premature loss of both of her parents. These experiences have taught Lindsay great lessons about the power of excellent people skills that extend well beyond her professional expertise.

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