1:15 read | Chime in on LinkedIn here and Twitter here
Safe spaces are not about:
❌Accommodating everyone’s sensitivities.
❌Halting productivity to favor assumed feelings or reactions to events.
❌Associating with a certain political leaning.
❌Turning a blind eye to someone who is negatively impacting the team. Because you’re worried about offending them.
Safe spaces are about:
✅Creating an avenue for your under-stress employees to be productive.
✅Being a decent human being.
There’s a common misconception about safe spaces. Which ruins the broader discussion and understanding.
That they’re an excuse for touchy-feely moments that get in the way of productivity.
Or that they’re about making the workplace an extension of personal political beliefs.
If you’re nodding your head right now, you’re kinda who I’m speaking to.
And I get it. The first time I ever heard the concept of a “safe space”, my initial reaction was: lol.
(I’m a cynical smart a$$. Don’t judge. Writing is my safe space…)
The reality is: we all go through sh*t from time to time.
Our homes have become our offices. There’s no separation. You take your work home with you. And your home life to work with you.
Maybe your family is stressing you out. Maybe your health took a turn. Maybe you were a victim of a crime. Maybe you lost a loved one. Maybe world events have become too much for you.
When that happens? You’re not the same person. For a while anyway. Definitely not at work. And that’s ok.
The real point of the safe space is to get everyone back on track. They may not have anyone else. If you can get them in the right headspace for life, they’ll be in the right headspace for work.
Remember: some of your colleagues may not have another positive outlet. You might be all they’ve got.
So be a good person and act like it.
Full episode of the Talent Insights podcast “Safe Spaces Are Not What You Think” with Hirewell’s Director of Talent Development Liz Koppa, here.
You can follow me on LinkedIn here and Twitter here. Join the discussion on this LinkedIn post (or give it a 👍) here.
Safe Space are not about accommodating sensitivities