Author | Lightnews

Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · 1d

Layoffs leave more than empty desks.They leave grief, guilt, silence — and a long road to healing.

Healing After Layoffs Isn’t Linear. It’s not a checklist. It’s a series of moments — messy, quiet, and deeply human.

Soft watercolor background with the words “Healing After Layoffs Isn’t Linear” in elegant serif font. Gentle pastel gradient evokes calm and reflection

Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · 3d

I have great new weekend reading from @itrevolution.com !

Two books by IT Revolution:
Progressive Delivery
Vibe Coding

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Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · 16d

Survivor’s guilt doesn’t always speak in words. Sometimes it shows up in silence. In hesitation. In the weight people carry alone.

Let’s change that. Let’s talk about what it looks, sounds, and feels like—for you, for your team, for your leadership.

#SurvivorsGuilt #LayoffRecovery #LeadWithCare

A digital graphic with the words ‘Let’s Talk About Survivor’s Guilt: What does it look, sound, or feel like for you?’ set against a soft teal background with subtle icons of speech bubbles and hearts.

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Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · 21d

“I used to love coming to work.” After layoffs, the office feels different. Quieter. Heavier. Survivor’s guilt isn’t just sadness—it’s questioning your place, your safety, your worth.

Leaders: don’t rush to ‘move on.’ Sit with the silence. Speak to the grief. That’s where healing begins.

A row of office desks, some empty and others with abandoned personal items. A blurred figure walks past, head down, symbolizing the emotional weight of survivor’s guilt after layoffs.

Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · 21d

Leaders: acknowledge the loss. Speak the unspeakable. Because healing starts with honesty.

#SurvivorsGuilt #LayoffRecovery #LeadWithCare #PsychologicalSafety #HumanAtWork

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Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · 21d

Layoffs don’t just impact those who leave. For those who remain, the silence can be deafening. Survivor’s guilt, fear, and grief often go unseen—but they shape how teams heal, trust, and move forward.

An empty office with one desk under a spotlight. The surrounding space is dark and quiet, symbolizing loneliness and survivor’s guilt after layoffs.

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Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · 23d

Micro-moments matter. They shape how we feel, how we show up, and how we lead.

What’s one moment that made you feel truly seen at work? Drop it in the comments. Let’s celebrate the small things that change everything.
#MicroMoments #PsychologicalSafety #LeadWithHumanity

Collage of micro-moments with the question: “What’s one micro-moment that made you feel seen at work?” Followed by: “Share it. Celebrate it. Create more of it.”

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Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · 25d

Feedback doesn’t have to feel like a threat. When someone says, “How’d I do on that presentation? I’d love your thoughts,” they’re inviting growth, not judgment. Safe feedback cultures start with open body language, curiosity, and trust. Let’s build teams where feedback feels like a gift.

Two coworkers exchange feedback with open body language. One says, “How’d I do on that presentation? I’d love any feedback you have.” Caption: “That’s how teams grow.”

Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · 25d

Not every moment of care is loud. Sometimes it’s a quiet check-in after a tough meeting. A message that says, “You okay?” These micro-moments often go unnoticed—but they’re the ones people remember. They say: I see you. I care.
#MicroMoments #EmotionalIntelligence #LeadWithHumanity

Two women are talking with each other. One is saying “Hey, just wanted to check in after that tough meeting. You okay?” Caption: “That’s care that sticks.”

Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · 26d

“I don’t know.” Three words that can unlock trust, collaboration, and innovation. When leaders admit uncertainty and invite others to co-create solutions, they model vulnerability—and that’s what builds real trust. Let’s normalize not having all the answers.
#MicroMoments #TrustInTeams

A leader writes “I don’t know” on a whiteboard and says, “Let’s figure it out together.” Caption: “That’s vulnerability that builds trust.”

Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · 28d

Sometimes, the most powerful leadership moment is a quiet one. When a manager says, “Take the time you need. We’ve got you,” it’s not just empathy—it’s psychological safety in action. It tells your team: You matter. You’re supported. You’re safe to be human here.
#MicroMoments #LeadershipWithCare

A manager gently supports a distressed employee at a desk, saying “Take the time you need. We've got you.” Caption: “That’s psychological safety in action.”

Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · 28d

I've been saying this about DevOps too. If your organization is a mess you just get to failure faster. Work on your people and processes first! Then you can speed them up.

IT Revolution @itrevolution.com · 28d

The "fail fast, fix fast" hypothesis doesn't hold up. DORA tested whether AI's speed gains offset instability's negative impacts.

Data says no. Instability still harms product performance and increases burnout, potentially negating throughput gains.

itrev.io/46QPBiN

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Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · 28d

What’s one moment that made you feel truly seen at work? Drop it in the comments. Let’s celebrate the small things that change everything.
#PsychologicalSafety #LeadershipWithCare #MicroMoments

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Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · 28d

These are the moments that shape culture—one interaction at a time.
This week’s carousel is a tribute to the tiny gestures that make people feel seen, safe, and supported at work.

Micro-Moments That Matter

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Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · 28d

Micro-moments build trust.
Not the grand gestures. Not the polished speeches. It’s the quiet check-in after a tough meeting. The “I don’t know, but let’s figure it out together.” The feedback that feels like an invitation, not a threat.

Warm gradient background with the title “Micro-Moments That Matter” and icons of a heart, speech bubble, and open door. Subtitle reads “Tiny gestures. Big impact.”

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Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · 29d

Collaboration thrives when safety leads.

What’s one thing you’ll try this week?

#CollaborationThatCares #PsychologicalSafety #CrossFunctionalTeams

A flat-style digital illustration shows eight diverse individuals walking across a completed brick bridge over water. Above the bridge, bold black text reads “BUILD THE BRIDGE,” followed by the phrase “Collaboration thrives when safety leads. What’s one thing you’ll try this week?” The bridge is decorated with sticky notes labeled “CROSS-TEAM GRATITUDE,” “ASK ME ANYTHING,” and “SHARED RETRO,” along with a red speech bubble. People exchange high-fives, smiles, and ideas under a sunny sky with a heart icon floating nearby. The scene symbolizes joyful, psychologically safe collaboration across teams.

Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · Sep 27

Start with one ritual: cross-team gratitude, shared retros, or ‘ask me anything’ circles.

What’s one ritual you’d love to see normalized?

#CollaborationThatCare #CultureChange #CrossFunctionalTeams

Reposted by Deanna Stanley

IT Revolution @itrevolution.com · Sep 26

Remote work, AI integration, platform engineering—organizations are only getting more complex. Effective team design isn't nice-to-have anymore, it's survival. You can't leave team structure to chance.

itrev.io/423AMqq

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Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · Sep 26

Leaders set the tone. Model curiosity, humility, and shared ownership — especially across silos.

Tag a leader who models this!

#CollaborationThatCares #HumanCenteredLeadership #CrossFunctionalTeams

A flat-style digital illustration shows a leader pointing toward a younger team member during a cross-functional meeting. Diverse individuals are engaged in discussion, with speech bubbles showing a question mark and a heart. The leader is off-center, emphasizing shared ownership and psychological safety.

Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · Sep 25

Trust is built through consistent, human-centered actions. Across teams, it starts with how we show up.

Which of these behaviors do you see most — or least?

#CollaborationThatCares #HumanCenteredLeadership #BuildingTrust

A flat-style digital illustration shows a checklist titled “Trust Behaviors That Bridge Teams.” It lists listening (👂), transparency (🔍), shared wins (🫱🏽‍🫲🏼), and inclusive planning (🧭), each with a checkmark. The background is calming light blue.

Reposted by Deanna Stanley

Association for Psychological Science @psychscience.bsky.social · Sep 24

Nominate a colleague to be an APS Fellow by October 1
www.psychologicalscience.org/members/fell...

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Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · Sep 25

Too many government agencies say they're different and case studies in the private sector don't count. Having case studies of other government makes this an even more powerful book.

IT Revolution @itrevolution.com · Sep 24

Singapore's government using "forward deployed teams" for digital transformation. Even the public sector is discovering Team Topologies isn't just for startups—it's for anyone who needs to move fast and adapt continuously.

itrev.io/423AMqq

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Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · Sep 24

Psychological safety means people can speak up, ask for help, and challenge ideas — without fear.

What phrases do you use to make people feel safe?

#CollaborationThatCares #LeadershipDevelopment #PsychologicalSafety #EmpathyInTech

A flat-style digital illustration shows a shared table with sticky notes reading “I don’t know,” “Can we try?”, “I need help,” and “I disagree.” Diverse hands place the notes during a cross-team planning session. A woman with medium skin tone and shoulder-length black hair appears at the bottom, wearing a mustard-yellow shirt with a neutral expression. The scene conveys psychological safety and emotional openness.

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Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · Sep 24

I will keep recommending it to clients!

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Deanna Stanley @psychsafety1.bsky.social · Sep 24

Good! No one ever believes me until I toss case studies at them.

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