For the last 20+ years coaching business leaders, I helped them create “safe” spaces for people to learn, grow, collaborate, create transformational change and achieve goals as high performing teams. But the world has changed with our diverse work environments. And we have evolved.
I am no longer focused on safe spaces. We need to be creating BRAVE spaces.
What feels so called “safe” is all in the heart, mind, life, and experiences of the beholder. What promotes safety to share, learn and work together for one person or group, may feel very much the opposite for others.
We need to evolve from having nice polite, comfortable conversations that often mask conflict avoidance and not dealing with the heart of issues, to being able to have open dialogue and honest productive conversations around what’s important with clarity, compassion, and courage.
BRAVE spaces exist
where people feel that they can contribute,
everyone is heard and acknowledged equally,
and differences about challenging topics can be constructively discussed.
If you are a leader, facilitator, consultant, parent, teacher, or anyone who is responsible for creating the atmosphere, culture, or spaces for others to flourish, grow, be their best true selves and collaborate well with others, now is the time to shift into the BRAVE gear.
As leaders, we must create the conditions for people to be BRAVE and open up, bring their whole selves, speak their truth, AND be able to listen, learn, and support others in doing the same.
Creating this begins with YOU…. But what does that look like?
Though there are many things to tend to, here are 3 important factors to attend to and inquiries to lead bravely:
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Are you able to speak your truth about your feelings and reactions with vulnerability and compassion about how others may receive it? You have to forge the way and role model the behaviors of speaking vulnerably and authentically with thought and compassion about your impact.
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Are you aware of power dynamics and different views based on group affiliations and diverse backgrounds? Are you able to acknowledge and learn from others that may seem different from you? The role of the leader is to allow unique differences to be expressed without judgement or retribution, to encourage learning, and not to influence others to think or be the same as us, or the dominant majority.
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Can you set and hold norms of behavior & accountability in the group that foster inclusion of all voices and views? Structure and strong leadership are needed to manage emotions and conflict to ensure groups and people are equally heard and validated.
To hear more about why this is important, here is a short video of an excerpt from a podcast I was just on with my colleague friend Wil Johnson.
If you are intrigued, have questions or want to learn more about how to lead and create BRAVE spaces, I’d love to talk to you! Contact me here.
This is important work in the world. Thanks for showing up and being in this community.
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My best always,
Jen
