The Power Of Safe Spaces In Business

I WANT to talk to you about one of the most power-full gifts you can create for your clients.

It doesn't need to cost you an arm and a leg. There's nothing to pay for postage. Your investment is simply one of time, space, empathy and compassion and, I promise, your clients - and future clients - will value this gift above anything else even the richest man in the world could provide.

I'm talking about the power of a safe space.

Honestly, when 'safe spaces' started to become a bit of a buzz term, all those years ago, part of me used to scoff. I just didn't get it. Surely, making sure people felt safe, comfortable, heard in your company was a given. What was the big deal?

Back then, to me, it felt like yet another case of fluffy, hippy, needless virtue signalling from political tree huggers.

In time, though, I came to realise my folly and my ignorance. Just because creating a safe space, for me, came naturally, that doesn't mean they EXIST naturally.

Truth

During my years as a coach, mentor and trainer, I've learned just how power-full it can be to really get into that zone of safety and holding for my clients. To actively create a space where they can be fully present, where they can speak their truth without fear of judgement or ridicule, where they feel truly heard - sometimes for the first time - supported and encouraged.

When it comes to coaching and development, of course, that doesn't mean clients won't be challenged in that space, or that the proverbial comfort zone won't be stretched.

Creating a safe space doesn't mean saying everything I think my client wants to hear or wrapping them in cotton wool. If that's your idea, you need to flip that on its head... it's in creating a space, with clean, clear boundaries, where people feel safe to express their feelings and know they'll be listened to, that the real magic happens.

It's far easier for someone to stretch themselves and step into that (sometimes scary) zone of possibility, learning and future pacing if they know I have their back and will hear them from a place of compassion, empathy and support, with only their best intentions at the forefront of my heart and mind.

It's far easier for someone to stretch themselves and step into that (sometimes scary) zone of possibility, learning and future pacing if they know I have their back and will hear them from a place of compassion, empathy and support, with only their best intentions at the forefront of my heart and mind.

Active listening

Let me just focus on the power of active listening for a moment.

We've all heard that old saying about having two ears and one mouth, and using them in that order, right?

The trouble is that most people listen to respond. We're not used to being fully present in the moment and listening purely to allow someone to feel 100% heard.

Because of this, a huge number of people have never experienced the sensation of being absolutely, thoroughly heard, their words accepted without argument, judgement or competing for conversation space.

If someone feels utterly heard, openly and deeply listened to, in your presence, you may well be creating a sense of acceptance and validation they've never truly enjoyed before. That can be one of the most power-full experiences you can provide for your client; it really can be transformational.

If someone feels utterly heard, openly and deeply listened to, in your presence, you may well be creating a sense of acceptance and validation they've never truly enjoyed before. That can be one of the most power-full experiences you can provide for your client; it really can be transformational.

Big hitters

Creating safe spaces isn't just for those you might deem 'vulnerable'. In fact, I've learned that some of the biggest hitters in business can really benefit from being heard, supported, encouraged, in a well-held space.

Whether C-suite execs, entrepreneurs or business owners, it's all too common for them to end up in a situation where they're spread too thinly... spinning too many plates, trying to keep everything running like clockwork, making sure the cashflow's good, their employees and clients are happy, their families are happy, with their own wellbeing right at the bottom of the priority list.

From middle management to business leaders, the need for safe spaces, especially with someone to coach and support them, can be crucial.

From middle management to business leaders, the need for safe spaces, especially with someone to coach and support them, can be crucial.

Safe spaces in action

Yesterday, Asha Clearwater and I spent the day with a multi-award-winning business owner and entrepreneur who is, I'm sure, on her way to becoming one of the most influential business leaders of her generation.

Jodie Fraser runs Fraser Allen; she's a residential block management specialist and has successfully grown her business year-on-year.

The way in which Jodie has managed the expansion of her business thus far is impressive, to say the very least, and this pales in comparison to her future plans. I know she'll achieve everything she sets her sights on and more.

When I listen to her talking about her team members and her clients, it's abundantly clear that her levels of care, integrity and support are second to none - Jodie is a conscientious leader, with a brilliant mind and a heart of gold.

When I listen to her talking about her team members and her clients, it's abundantly clear that her levels of care, integrity and support are second to none - Jodie is a conscientious leader, with a brilliant mind and a heart of gold.

Jodie has been one of my coaching clients for some time now, and I've watched, sometimes in awe, as she's developed her portfolio and grown to new heights.

When we met up yesterday, it was for a full day strategy session. While Asha was there to help Jodie with her LinkedIn bio and (as it transpired) her book publishing plans, Jodie and I worked on personal brand, business development, 'blue sky' future income streams and much more.

Bullying

What not everyone will know is that Jodie has been subjected to the most vile, malicious trolling I have ever seen. It's been going on for months now. We suspect it's one man with a hateful agenda, creating multiple accounts, on multiple platforms, with the express intention of damaging her reputation. It's reached the point where the police are involved and Jodie is working with a solicitor.

Something else many won't know is that Jodie was bullied terribly during her school years. It culminated in Jodie being repeatedly hit around the head with the wooden triangle from a snooker table; she ended up being hospitalised, with 13 stitches in her head, black eyes and nerve damage.

That bullying all stemmed from a single person. In the run up to the worst attack, there were several attempts to set Jodie's hair on fire, she was constantly under threat of being beaten up and her family had bricks thrown at their windows and car tyres slashed. She lived with this fear for six years until, finally, she ended up in that hospital bed and her bully was expelled.

Now, all these years later, she's being bullied once more - again, from a single, malicious, relentless source.

This time, she's an adult business owner, admirably carrying on with the gold-star service she delivers for her clients, looking after her team, developing her business and caring for her family.

Before our meeting, Jodie had gathered all her courage and recorded a LinkedIn video, for the first time - not simply to speak out about her troll, but to give hope and support to anyone else going through any kind of bullying. You can watch it here.

I'm telling you this to demonstrate that no matter how much someone appears to be smashing their business goals and living an awesome life, we never really know what's going on beneath the surface.

I'm telling you this, of course, to demonstrate that no matter how much someone appears to be smashing their business goals and living an awesome life, we never really know what's going on beneath the surface.

Furthermore, when someone is at the top of their game, they often become the go-to person for everyone else. Who's there for them?

After our strategy session, Jodie sent me this message (which I'm sharing with her permission): "It wasn't just informative and supportive and awesome, but you really made me feel at home, and in a really safe space. Thank you both."

See? Despite all the hard-core business development plans we'd made, Jodie really zoned in on the safe space we created for her to be herself and be heard.

Important for everyone

Let me double-down on the importance of safe spaces some more, just in case you're thinking that really only mattered because of Jodie's troll situation.

A few weeks ago, I ran my Heart Of Speaking three-day speaker training retreat. One of the delegates was Sam Munslow - leadership coach and author. Check out the recommendation she posted on LinkedIn after the event: "This course exceeded all expectations and I grew so much in confidence, understanding and ability - in a safe, supportive and empowering atmosphere."

There's that safe space being mentioned again.

Let's see how many times that same safe space was mentioned by other delegates - none of whom, for the record, had been asked to mention it...

Wendy-Anne Steer, speaker, coach, EFT practitioner: "The experience was so many things so here a a few words that are emotive for me... joyous, supportive, safe, confidence building, challenging and fun."

Carrie Eddins, connection marketing specialist: "Taz created an emotionally safe space for myself and the other attendees to learn to speak from the heart and become better and better with each day. It was incredibly healing, transformational and uplifting too."

Alisa Barcan, financial coach and business mentor: "Taz and Asha created such a safe space for everyone."

Emma Rose, clinical solution-focused hypnotherapist: "I had fun, I made new friends, I learnt lots, I challenged myself, I felt safe and supported, I felt motivated and much more."

Pam Case, LinkedIn trainer and speaker: "This very special retreat is such a safe place to learn and practice public speaking skills. It's practical, informative, educational, inspirational, and empowering."

Jacqui McPeake, food allergen and catering specialist: "Taz provides a safe space to grow and soak up the energy and learn so much."

I could go on.

A quick scroll through my recommendations will show a similar pattern. These are all professional people. All running successful businesses. All have chosen to work with me to build their professional skillsets. And yet... so many mention that safe space.

Go the extra mile

When you genuinely care about the people you serve, when you really go that extra mile to listen, to support, to hold space for them in a way that rarely happens in the 'outside world', you will be tapping into a need that, perhaps, even they didn't realise was there.

Listen. REALLY listen. Open your heart as well as your ears. Listen deeply. Listen with the intention of tuning into what's being said between the words.

Listen. REALLY listen. Open your heart as well as your ears. Listen deeply. Listen with the intention of tuning into what's being said between the words.

Create a space where the people you sit down with feel able to voice the things they've been locking down for years.

Build an environment where they feel safe to be themselves and comfortable enough with you to step BEYOND their comfort zone, and into a place where they can see their potential as they've never been able to before.

Do that for people and, I promise, they will remember you forever more.

From that point onwards? Don't be surprised if word spreads. Give someone a gift as power-full as being truly heard and supported and they'll recommend you far and wide, as well as becoming lifelong advocates and clients who will forever trust in you.

When did you last truly feel heard, safe to speak your truth and be supported, without judgement?

That's the power of creating safe spaces.

#UnleashYourAwesome,

Taz

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Taz is a best-selling author, inspirational business speaker and multiple TEDx speaker, consultant on confidence, personal brand and visibility, and an award-winning?coach?(UK’s Best Female Coach 2018 — Best Business Woman Awards, Female Professional Of The Year, Central England, 2020). She is also the creator of the?#UnleashYourAwesome, Brand Mastery and Project Artemis personal and business development programmes, as well as?#UNLEASHED?— an affordable confidence, content and cashflow building programme for coaches, healers and therapists, and?LIFEFORCE?— an affordable online spiritual empowerment and coaching programme for people wanting to bring more optimism into their lives.

Taz has been featured on BBC, ITV, in HuffPost, Diva, Metro, The Daily Mail and countless other newspapers, magazines and podcasts. In 2019, she was named as one of the most inspirational businesswomen in the UK and, in 2020, she was named as one of the world’s top 50 women in marketing to follow.

Find her on?Facebook,?Medium,?Twitter,?Insta,?Ko-Fi,?TikTok, Clubhouse and?TazThornton.com.