Virtual not Distant

Psychological safety refers to:

“an individual’s perception of the consequences of taking an interpersonal risk or a belief that a team is safe for risk taking in the face of being seen as ignorant, incompetent, negative, or disruptive. In a team with high psychological safety, teammates feel safe to take risks around their team members. They feel confident that no one on the team will embarrass or punish anyone else for admitting a mistake, asking a question, or offering a new idea.”1

Take a deep breath, focus on what they are saying (rather on the effect that the words are having on you), and ask as many questions as you can to comprehend their context

It is important to remember that disagreeing with team members about the work is an essential part of improving our process. Help people stay focused on the task, and notice how their disagreements help team members become even better at both collaboration and their work