There is significant focus on psychological safety in the workplace within the creative sector. In the worlds of film, television, fashion, and the performing arts, abuse of power, sexism, and discrimination are increasingly being challenged as unacceptable. Awareness of power, privilege, diversity, and inclusion is growing. Looking back at two decades of working in the creative sector, I recognize numerous situations that I recall with retrospective bewilderment, and which (fortunately) would no longer be considered ‘normal’ today. But there is still a long way to go.
What is required in the creative workplace (or educational environment) to achieve psychological safety? And, moving beyond research reports, policy frameworks, and advisory committees, what does this look like in practice? In this post, I would like to share my insights (with a healthy dose of discomfort, speaking as a highly educated, middle-aged white heterosexual man).
What is a Safe Space?
The concept of the ‘Safe space’ originated in psychotherapy as a secure place to discuss trauma with peers. It was later adopted as a term to describe safe meeting places for groups such as women or the LGBTQ community. Today, the term is also used by organizations that claim they want to be a ‘safe space,’ meaning they do not tolerate sexism, homo/transphobia, or racism. It is an appealing idea: a work or learning environment where everyone feels safe and can be themselves, free from criticism or judgment.
In practice, it has become clear that this focus on safety can also be counterproductive. It can even hinder the very groups it is intended to protect. After all, conflict and the powerful expression of indignation and anger are sometimes necessary to challenge and change a dominant system. At the same time, it can shift toward right/wrong thinking and lead to a cancel culture, where people are no longer allowed to make mistakes or find anything ‘strange.’
If we begin to confuse conversations that are tense and uncomfortable, or feedback and opinions that are unpleasant to hear, with a lack of safety, we will start to avoid one another. If we only surround ourselves with like-minded people and choose to speak with confidential counselors and grievance committees rather than with each other, then connection and trust stand no chance.
Safety, Innovation, and Creativity
In the creative sectors, where creation, innovation, and collaboration often occur on the edge of the unknown, there is always a tension between safety and pushing boundaries. In the performing arts, for example, artists want to be able to experiment, be vulnerable, and challenge one another to achieve high-level artistic results. In addition to a safe environment with protective conditions, this specifically requires the space to make mistakes, engage in conflict, and have difficult conversations. As scientist and author Amy C. Edmondson says: “Psychological safety is not about being nice or lowering performance standards, it’s about giving candid feedback, openly admitting mistakes, and learning from them.”
From Safe Space to Brave Space
Psychological safety is therefore precisely about daring to hold one another accountable, being interested in others’ perspectives, daring to seek out discomfort, and exploring challenging territory together. This is how trust and mutual respect are built, which are the prerequisites for innovation and creativity.
The idea of the Brave Space emerged from this line of thinking. We accept that where different people come together, conflicts will occur and things can get tense. We create a space where honest feedback, vulnerability, and the opportunity to learn from mistakes are central. An environment where we do not always have to agree, but where there is room for honest communication and empathy for each other’s viewpoints. In a Brave space, we feel that we belong because we also dare to stand alone, as Brené Brown would say.
Building the Brave Space with Nonviolent Communication
There are numerous valuable research reports, advisory papers, and policy frameworks regarding social and psychological safety in the creative sector. But ultimately, it comes down to sitting down together and simply “doing” it. For Brave spaces to function effectively, concrete skills are needed that promote empathy and open dialogue between team members, such as:
- Empathic listening without hearing criticism or falling into guilt or shame
- Gaining inner clarity about what is being triggered within you and which values and needs are important to you
- Being able to express this honestly in a powerful, clear, and non-judgmental way.
These are the three core processes of Nonviolent Communication. If we want to see the Brave space in action and make it concrete, training and practicing these key skills with team members is an effective and practical approach. Nonviolent Communication teaches team members to express themselves without blaming or judging others, and to truly hear another person beyond the field of right or wrong. In this way, it contributes to psychological safety in the creative workplace.
If you would like more information about what Equanimity can do for your team or organization regarding Collaborative / Nonviolent Communication and Psychological Safety, please contact Boris Nauta (boris@equanimity.nu).
Image: scene from the circus theater production Brave Spaces used with permission from Theater Group Aloft (USA).