More Facets Involved in developing a safety led space

**Please begin this series on developing safe spaces with the article ‘The Quandary of the Safe Space’, I have removed the paywall so it’s accessible to all. Then head to ‘Facets Involved in Developing a Safety Led Space, Part 2’. The following article is part 3 of this series…**

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Timing of Things.

Speaking to the timing of things means either sticking to the allocated timing of the session or collaboratively deciding whether the session should go overtime or finish early. This also includes speaking to break times. A brief discussion on the timing of things helps participants manage their energy expenditure to ensure as best as possible they remain within their capacity for the session work and informs expectations around recovery time after the session.

Asking for Permission.

This is a less formal version of seeking consent and can take place spontaneously in many moments throughout session work even after initial consent may have been given. Asking for permission is akin to a way of maintaining consent throughout. Can I touch your arm? Would you mind saying that again so everyone can hear? Can I share that song in my group if I give you full credit and a link to the original? Do you mind if I take a pic of this? Can I write down what you just said? Are you OK with me taking notes? Etc etc.

Facilitator modelling of agreements.

When facilitators truly know the ethics, agreements, expectations and values they hold for their sessions, and walk their talk by embodying these in the way they facilitate, they keep the safety of their session structured. They also plant seeds for participants to take ethical agreements seriously in their own lives and work places. When facilitators set the agreements and then ignore or override even one of them, the trust can be completely lost by participants who may have been relying on that agreement for their sense of safety, as well as creating a sense of ‘it’s not that important anyway’.