I have been thinking a lot about the different language being used to describe the workspaces we want to create. We are starting to understand the importance of psychological safety in the workplace where people feel safe to speak up, share ideas and make mistakes (Edmondson, 2019). There is a whole chapter in the book about this topic as it has such a huge impact on both workplace well-being and team success. I also loved the book club conversation we had on the podcast: Episode 4: Psychological Safety so check it out if you missed it.

There is a move to change the words safe space to brave space and many of my respected colleagues have changed to this language for good reasons. The reason they prefer brave space is that they want to acknowledge that the space is not equally safe for all. Depending on our own history, experience, ethnic background, group membership, position in the institutional hierarchy etc. we all come to meetings with different levels of safety and that must be recognized. I am leaning towards using the term, safer space, and I am hoping you will join me in thinking about this.

Here are my thoughts:

It will never be equally safe for all, but it can and should be a safer space. A brave space, yes, but that puts the responsibility on the individual and it is also a collective and systemic responsibility. It is actually more the latter two, or there is damage done to the brave. Courage is noble but equal courage does not produce equal results and therefore was never equal to begin with. So don’t praise me for my courage or congratulate yourself on yours without subtracting the privilege that you can’t really subtract. This is where my math skills fail me. This work requires courage nonetheless and the risk, if realized, hurts our souls in the same way but not in the same measure.

I think we have an obligation to work towards creating safer spaces in our workplaces, not in that let’s give it our best try kind of way, but in the dig and do it even if it’s hard, kind of way. I think it is a collective and systemic responsibility so it is not enough for you or me to be brave alone. I think that when we have these safer spaces, we will have to keep vigilant and constantly work to keep them that way but that these kinds of workplaces will be so productive, so creative and so much fun, that we will see it less as a responsibility and more of a joy!

What do you think? Please comment below!