How to create ‘Safe space’. It takes more than an announcement
You don’t create psychological safety simply by stating, ‘This is a safe space’. An announcement may indicate your intent, but it’s of minimal value unless supported by solid behaviour. Here are two actions that will go a long way towards substantiating your claim.
1 Set rules at the start
In a virtual setting, let participants know the ‘netiquette’ for your session. Is it ‘camera on’, ‘camera off’, or ‘as-you-wish’? How and when can participants ask questions? Should we expect breakout rooms?
Similarly in an in-person event, ensure everyone knows the basic framework – show and describe the big picture for the day. Let everyone know when there will be breaks.
2 Ensure voices are heard
Early in your session, invite everyone to speak in a brief, turn-taking round, with a slot of equal length available to each participant. And welcome each contribution, so it is clear that speaking up is expected and appreciated.
What do you do early in a session to quickly establish psychological safety?
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Facilitator l Speaker l Author dedicated to improving workplace engagement. Founder, Quality Service Marketing. Certified facilitator, LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®
1yTo reinforce these two actions, I share my expectations by laying out the ground rules/netiquette (that include listening and responding respectfully) and invite participants to add to the list what additional rules they agree on.
Dynamic Educator, Trainer & Speaker. Creating innovative ways for educational professionals to embed Social Emotional Learning into their daily routines easily and joyfully.
1yPsychological safety and engagement go hand in hand. When you set the stage for both, you’ve paved the way for deeper learning and ongoing relationships.
Extending Invitations to Experience and Engage with Who and What Matters to You
1yThe simple key for me, taken from a number of years of teaching Crucial Conversations for Vital Smarts is to ensure people know I care about them and I care about what they are interested in. I also believe a "check-in" at the start is so important to get people used to the sound of their own voice early and in a loose way to connect with each other. Many times the incidental learning from the check in was by far the most significant learning of the day and usurped anything on the planned curriculum. I loved the work of Edgar H Schein and Humble Inquiry. He died 2 weeks ago and he will be missed! I found out just now that with his son he wrote a second edition to Humble Inquiry and I will need to check it out as Edgar was "into" psychological safety way in advance of its current popularity.