What is a "Safe Environment"?
What is a “Safe Environment”?
I have more experience with un-safe environments. What about you?
Well, I know what an unsafe environment is. I am sure you have your own examples. For me, an unsafe environment is one where a person does not know what success is. What is the goal? What are we (the team) trying to do? What is my role?
The human brain works within a context. If the context is unknown - i.e. there is a fog and you don't know there is a cliff two-steps away, the human brain processes fear. It makes the brain work from a primordial place where reason does not exist. Do I fight or run? If I am unable to run, then I must fight. If I am unable to fight, then I, the brain, gets stuck, frustrated, and desperate. Dr. Henry Cloud speaks of this natural response in his book, Boundaries for Leaders. It's a great read for leaders who lead others or just themselves. He describes how small gestures go a long way to creating a environment for healthy brain functioning.
Let us define and create Save Environments wherever we roam.
How would you define your Safe Space?