Trust Over Safety: Why Courageous Spaces Outperform Safe Ones

By Jayson Krause, Managing Director of Level 52 & Award-Winning Author of The Science Behind Success

You have probably heard time after time about the importance of creating 'safe spaces'. So what if I told you that 'safe' isn't always the best policy? What if I told you that what you really need to foster is not safety, but courage? This is something I often share when I lead executive offsites because it’s a very important distinction. 

Let's start with a biological fact: at a cellular level, you are either in growth mode or protection mode, never both at the same time. Growth mode is about taking risks, pushing boundaries, and driving innovation. Protection mode, on the other hand, is about working slowly and carefully, avoiding risks to ensure survival. Both modes are necessary for survival, but habitual protection mode won't get your career, your team, or your business any further down the line.

Now, let's apply this concept to the workplace. A 'safe space' is essentially a protection mode environment. It's a space where people feel comfortable, where they avoid risks and conflict to maintain harmony. While this might ensure survival, it won't drive growth. Creating safe spaces stifles courage.

A 'courageous space', on the other hand, is a growth mode environment. It's a space where people feel empowered to take risks, to challenge the status quo, and to push the boundaries of what's possible. It’s not about taking care of others, It's about fostering an environment where people are not just allowed, but encouraged, to step out of their comfort zones.

The key to creating a space like this fully rests on the power of trust. Trust is the foundational ingredient that transforms a safe space into a courageous one. It's what holds a team together, and the most basic foundation upon which high-performing teams are built.

So, if you're a leader looking to build a high-performing team, don't aim for safety. Aim for courage. That has to be your target. Foster an environment of trust, where team members feel empowered to take risks and to challenge one another and the status quo. It's not about making people feel comfortable. It's about making them feel courageous. And the only way to do that is through trust. So when inevitable messes are made and things fall apart, they trust that you can work collectively to put the pieces back together.