Skip to the videos:

1. Episode 1: The Power of Human Insight-Led QI 
2. Episode 2: Why Comfort is the Enemy of Psychological Safety 
3. Episode 3: Asking for Help and Advice in our Teams 
4. Episode 4: The Growth Mindset Myth – Languishing in the Stretch Zone 
5. Episode 5: The Hidden Dynamics that Hold Teams Back 
6. Episode 6: What Story is Your Team Telling Itself? 
7. Episode 7: Communication Under Pressure – Why Every Interaction Matters 

Episode 1: Reflections from the field - insights on high performing teams and learning cultures

In the first episode of 'Human Insights', Eli Bond shares the power of human insight-led quality improvement, and how supporting people and driving performance aren't opposing goals, but must go hand in hand. 

Drawing on The PSC's Human Insight-led Quality Improvement (QI) approach, Eli discusses:

• How public service leaders often feel torn between supporting their teams and meeting performance pressures, but that this is a false dichotomy - people and performance are interdependent.
• Burnout and poor processes feed each other, so improving both requires understanding staff experiences
• How The PSC’s approach creates psychologically safe spaces for staff to voice frustrations and identify pain points, to create opportunities for both capability building and performance-enhancing interventions 

Episode 2: Why comfort is the enemy of psychological safety

In episode 2, Eli unpacks one of the most common misconceptions she sees in teams: that psychological safety means keeping everyone comfortable.

In just 3 minutes, Eli takes us back to the original research and explains:

• Why true safety isn’t about ease or comfort
• How individuals within psychologically safe teams have candour, trust, and the courage to speak up even when it’s uncomfortable
• How without some level of discomfort, there’s no room for growth or improvement

If you aren't sure what psychological safety actually means for how teams interact - this episode is for you. 

Episode 3: Asking for help and advice in our teams

Even if we don't say it out loud, we often think of asking for help as a sign of weakness or incompetence. But the research tells a different story. In episode 3, Eli explores how seeking help can actually build trust, enhance credibility, and improve team performance—when it’s done well.

Drawing on psychological and behavioural research, Eli unpacks:

• Why many of us hesitate to ask for help
• The three common fears behind that hesitation
• And the surprising data that shows how asking can boost—not damage—your professional reputation

If you're interested in building stronger, more connected, and higher-performing teams, this 3-minute episode is well worth the watch. 

Episode 4: The Growth Mindset myth - languishing in the stretch zone

In this episode, Eli challenges a common misconception about high performance: that we need to stay in a constant state of stretch to grow. Drawing on psychological research and performance science, Eli explores why sustainable growth depends on recovery as much as challenge—and how leaders can support this dynamic for themselves and their teams.

Take 5 minutes to rethink how you and your teams can better balance stretch and recovery to ensure sustainable performance.

For those interested, the following articles are drawn upon in the video:

• Ryan, A., & Markova, D. (2006). The Comfort, Stretch, Panic Model: https://www.amsterdamuas.com/binaries/content/assets/subsites/safe/lecturers/background-for-teachers/the-comfort-stretch-panic-model.pdf
• Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes: https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvjf9vz4
• Yerkes, R. M., & Dodson, J. D. (1908). The relation of strength of stimulus to rapidity of habit-formation: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cne.920180503 

Episode 5: The hidden dynamics that hold teams back

Why do some teams default to dependency, hesitate to take ownership, or seem stuck in passive compliance? In episode 5, Eli explores a subtle but powerful behavioural pattern we see in many organisations — Parent/Child dynamics. Drawn from Transactional Analysis, this psychological model reveals how even well-meaning leadership behaviours can unintentionally create disempowerment, reduce autonomy, and erode a culture of accountability.

In 3 minutes, Eli explains:

•  How to spot Parent/ Child dynamics in your team
•  Why these patterns reduce trust and initiative
•  What it takes to lead from an “Adult–Adult” dynamic instead

If you’re committed to building a high-performing, psychologically safe team culture — this episode is essential viewing. 

Episode 6: What story is your team telling itself?

High-performing teams don’t just deliver — they know what they’re delivering and where they're falling short. In this episode, Eli explores a simple but powerful diagnostic for understanding team performance: how closely does the story your team tells itself match the reality of what’s being achieved?

In complex public sector systems, it’s easy for narrative and reality to drift apart — especially when pressure is high and results are hard won. But the process of closing that gap? It activates the very behaviours that drive improvement:

• Honest reflection
• Candid feedback
• Acknowledging mistakes and successes
• Building psychological safety

If you're leading transformation, improvement, or cultural change, this 90-second video offers a clear, practical lens to help you assess your team's current state — and the distance to travel. 

Episode 7: Communication under pressure — why every interaction matters

When the pressure is on, it’s easy to excuse poor communication with good intentions: “They’re just stressed — give them some grace.” But this well-meaning approach can quietly set off a negative spiral:

• Lower standards become normalised
• Team morale and resilience erode
• Poorer behaviours start to creep in

In episode 7, Eli Bond explores why every interaction matters and why compassionate communication is even more critical when the pressure rises. As Eli reminds us that in the military, where pressure is constant and the stakes are life-or-death, personnel are trained to keep communication succinct, clear, and empathetic — not despite the stress, but because of it.

It’s just 2 minutes and packed with practical insight for leaders navigating demanding environments. Watch now and explore how your team can stay connected and resilient, especially when it matters most. 

The PSC exists to make public services brilliant. If anything in this series peaked your interest, or you would like to know how we can support your team to create psychologically safe spaces to boost performance, get in touch with Eli at elanor.bond@thepsc.co.uk.