Does the thought of creating a safe space ever make you nervous? Last year, I felt that way as I was preparing to facilitate a workplace satisfaction conversation for a group of employees. I was responsible for guiding a space that was about to invite people’s most intimate and vulnerable thoughts and comments. But I really needed to think through how to set up an environment that ensured participants felt safe to voice their thoughts in confidence and felt seen, held, and protected. It was critical that the space I hoped to create was one that not only proclaimed safety, but one that was accountable to safety. 

 At Mission Partners, we aim to create safe spaces for our clients, for our colleagues, and for one another. You may have heard the phrase “this is a safe space.” I am frequent to these words in my own facilitation and communication. The term “safe space” has origins to academic spaces that were fostered on campuses to give individuals with an LGBTQIA+ identity a space for community. Safety is a state of emotions and guardrails that differ for everyone, particularly in moments of vulnerability. Your safe space will often be defined by your own emotions and experiences.  

Cultivating an ideologically safe space might start with non-judgment of one’s expression in said space, but there is danger in letting non-judgement be the sole objective, as it does not account for the impact of whatever may be expressed, even if with the most benign intentions. I recall a time that I left a proclaimed safe space feeling harmed. Someone on the call shared a thought that they felt comfortable expressing, however the racist and xenophobic undertone of the statement left me feeling hurt and conflicted. I deeply wish someone had spoken up for me during the call and invited conversation on the implications and impact of the comment. I assumed that the label of a “safe space” would bear accountability to the space from inflicting harm. But that was not true.  

I believe the safest of spaces are brave spaces – inviting vulnerability and ensuring there is accountability to discrimination, harassment, or any other emotional and physical harm to oneself and others. 

Brave spaces open dialogue about challenging topics, encouraging perspectives to be voiced without a fear of judgement, exclusion, and discrimination. Studies from the NASPA Research and Policy Institute introduce an evolution from safe spaces to brave spaces and the nuance of this term. While this term is largely used in academic settings*, consider implementing these grounding agreements in your next meeting to foster a brave space: 

1. Controversy with civility, where varying opinions are accepted 
2. Owning intentions and impacts, in which people acknowledge and discuss instances where a dialogue has affected the emotional well-being of another person 
3. Challenge by choice, where people have an option to step in and out of challenging conversations 
4. Respect, where people show respect for one another’s basic personhood 
5. No attacks, where people agree not to intentionally inflict harm on one another 

Circling back to the moment when I was holding the confidential conversation for my client, I began the meeting. Setting the tone for the container for the conversation, I welcomed folks with instrumental background music, declared grounding agreements, and opened with an opportunity for everyone to share anything that was on their heart and/or mind. In the grounding agreements, I encouraged the group to invite their first-draft thoughts in this safe space, but also challenged them to muster up the courage to consider impact along with their intentions. While our conversation was not to unleash judgement, it was a space to advance courage and accountability. I encouraged them to think of our time as a brave space. The exchange that resulted was one of the most generative, courageous conversations I have been a part of to date – as it transformed people’s reflections into opportunities for deeper analysis of self, of others, and for each other’s well-being.   

As noted in the research, “the concept of a brave space encompasses all of what the sectors discussed in this work regard as safe spaces but clarifies that these environments are challenging and that [people] are expected to participate within them.” 

In the field of communications, our team huddles, strategy sessions, and client meetings will lead to an opportunity for many different perspectives to engage. Brave spaces not only embrace that discourse with open arms, but also set the ground for accountability towards the dialogue, owning intentions and impact. So, in your next meeting or group gathering, consider working with your facilitator to center courage and accountability that can help move safe spaces into brave spaces.  

*Note: the word “students” has been replaced by people, for purpose of elements beyond academic settings. 

References and Ways to Learn More

• Tackling the Term: What is a Safe Space? 
• Make Your Meetings a Safe Space for Honest Conversation 
• NASPA Research and Policy Institute, “Safe Spaces and Brave Spaces – Historical Context and Recommendations,” October 2017