From 48 to 64 — on measurement alone.

This global leader in in-vitro diagnostics set out to build internal capability to coach on The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety™, shift from silo thinking toward an inclusive culture where contribution crosses the enterprise, and create real leader accountability and ownership for psychological safety. Above all, it wanted measurable progress it could see over time.

It also set a clear bar: a starting 4 Stages score of 48, and a target of 53.

What makes this engagement notable is what it left out. The organization ran two population-wide PSindex™ surveys — a baseline in January 2023 and a re-measurement that November — paired with an email drip campaign that delivered resources tailored to each of the four stages throughout the year. No workshops. No online course. No debrief sessions in the contract period.

It was, in effect, a controlled test of the question every L&D leader asks: how far can measurement and awareness alone move a culture?

The overall 4 Stages score rose from 48 to 64 — a 33% gain that didn’t just hit the target of 53, it cleared it by eleven points. Every stage improved: inclusion safety up 29%, learner safety up 33%, contributor safety up 22%. And the safety to challenge — historically the hardest stage to move — nearly doubled, climbing from 27 to 47, a 74% gain.

Measurement and awareness alone moved every stage of psychological safety — and nearly doubled the hardest one. Imagine the curve with the workshops added.