The Power Of Support And Psychological Safety In Enhancing Team Adaptability Among Law Enforcement Teams

Abstract

In today’s rapidly changing work environment, team adaptability is a crucial determinant of organizational success. This study examines the relationship between team support, psychological safety, and team adaptability, focusing on the mediating role of psychological safety. Using data from 351 respondents, a one-way ANOVA was conducted to assess differences in team adaptability across demographic groups, while mediation analysis via PROCESS macro was employed to evaluate the indirect effects of psychological safety. Results indicate that team support significantly enhances adaptability, but its effect is substantially mediated by psychological safety. While team support fosters a collaborative environment, psychological safety plays a stronger direct role in enabling team members to share ideas, take calculated risks, and adjust to change. These findings emphasize that while providing team support is essential, creating a psychologically safe workplace is even more critical for improving adaptability. Organizations should focus on leadership development, transparent communication, and non-punitive feedback mechanisms to cultivate psychological safety and maximize team adaptability. This study contributes to existing literature by highlighting the interactive effects of support and safety in shaping adaptive team behaviors. Future research should explore contextual factors such as leadership styles and industry-specific challenges to deepen the understanding of how teams adapt in various organizational settings.