The Significance of Safe Spaces
“Safe spaces” has become a buzz phrase as more awareness around creating opportunities for ideas to flow freely without judgment or uneasiness emerges. Inviting people to a space is one thing, but does that space allow for vulnerable conversation and the freedom to express thoughts and views?
We have all attended meetings, gatherings, or conferences where it was like pulling teeth to get people to engage or share out. On the flipside, we have left settings feeling empowered from all of the great connections and dialogue that we were able to engage in. No matter what end of the spectrum we fell on, we will never forget how that space left us feeling.
You can’t change every space for the better, but you can appropriately structure the ones you are responsible for curating.
Defining “safety”
“Safety” can be subjective based on the individual, but—at the core—we all desire protection. When your audiences are deciding if they feel safe in a space you’re curating, they may ask themselves the following:
Are my thoughts in this space protected?
Will anything I share in the space be repeated outside?
Will I receive practical instructions for change?
Can I trust that the creator of this space will be accessible in the future?
Is this a credible person? Are these credible people?
When you’re facilitating gatherings, some of these questions may not be answered right away, but—while you have your audience—you have to plant a seed of what your character is to let them decide if they feel safe with you as their facilitator.
The facilitator’s role
In its simplest form, facilitation means bringing something about or making it easier. Because this plays a huge role in my profession, I have been intentional about creating a secure environment when I facilitate, bringing about deeper conversations and making it easier for one to share their thoughts and views in a group setting.
The following tips have certainly helped me lighten the load and allowed my audiences to let their guard down in shared spaces.
Be authentic
You may be the expert in a space, but that does not require an overly serious presence that creates an invisible hierarchy. Bring elements of yourself into your settings, like personal pitfalls and triumphs, colloquial language, or stories relevant to the topic. People can see right through someone who poses like they have authority and not genuinely showing up as themselves. Your job is to show up as your genuine self.
Be prepared
Time is precious, and you must maximize every second of facilitation. If audiences think the facilitator is “going with the flow” all the time or trying to just kill time, they will feel like their time is not being respected. Everything isn’t always perfect, but showing you care about people’s time will make them feel respected in your space.
Be honest
I never make up anything to save face in front of people. My expertise runs out at a certain point, and I may have to report back when I have the answers or defer to someone who may have the answers in that space. It shows that I am human and am receptive to learning from others, even as an “expert.”
Be flexible and aware
Agendas should help you keep the conversation going, but you should always read the room to see if you need to pivot. Are people enjoying times of synergy with their peers? Can I borrow time from somewhere else to accommodate this? Is what I am doing triggering and causing discomfort? Sensitivity to others’ needs and wants can improve the overall mood of the day and open the door to deeper conversations.
Be available
You can only do so much with the time you have, but your ability to remain accessible to your audience is important. It signifies relationship over transaction and will establish trust within future gatherings. People will value your actions before your words, until there comes a time when they can value both.
Conclusion
Incorporating the tips above as you plan your next meetings, gathering, or any space where discussion drives may help the conversation flow more easily and help create an environment that leaves the audience feeling they have been cared for, listened to, and affirmed—the true goal of the facilitator.