How can you create psychological safety and belonging in your group?

1 What is psychological safety and belonging?

Psychological safety is the belief that you can speak up, share ideas, make mistakes, and be yourself without fear of negative consequences. Belonging is the feeling that you are accepted, appreciated, and connected to others who share your goals and values. Both psychological safety and belonging are essential for group performance, creativity, and well-being.

2 Why is facilitation important for psychological safety and belonging?

Facilitation is the process of guiding and supporting a group to achieve a common purpose. As a facilitator, you can influence the level of psychological safety and belonging in your group by creating a clear and inclusive agenda, setting and enforcing ground rules, encouraging participation and feedback, managing conflicts and emotions, and celebrating successes and learnings. Facilitation can help you build trust, rapport, and collaboration among your group members.

3 How can you create psychological safety and belonging before the session?

Before you start your session, you can prepare the groundwork for psychological safety and belonging by doing some research and planning. You can learn about your group's background, needs, expectations, and preferences, and use this information to design a relevant and engaging session. You can also communicate the purpose, objectives, and agenda of the session to your group, and invite them to share their questions, concerns, and suggestions. This can help you establish clarity, transparency, and alignment.

4 How can you create psychological safety and belonging during the session?

During your session, you can foster psychological safety and belonging by using various facilitation techniques and tools. You can start by introducing yourself and your role, and inviting your group members to introduce themselves and their expectations. You can then review the agenda and the ground rules, and ask for your group's consent and commitment. You can also use icebreakers, check-ins, and energizers to warm up the group, build rapport, and create a positive atmosphere. Throughout the session, you can encourage your group to share their opinions, experiences, and feedback, and acknowledge and appreciate their contributions. You can also use active listening, paraphrasing, summarizing, and questioning to clarify, validate, and deepen your group's understanding. You can also monitor and address any issues, conflicts, or emotions that may arise, and use humor, empathy, and compassion to diffuse tension and support your group.

5 How can you create psychological safety and belonging after the session?

After your session, you can reinforce psychological safety and belonging by following up with your group. You can thank them for their participation and input, and provide them with a summary and a feedback form. You can also ask them to share their reflections, learnings, and action plans, and offer them your support and guidance. You can also celebrate your group's achievements and improvements, and recognize their strengths and potential. You can also solicit and implement their feedback, and show them that you value their voice and perspective.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?