Jumping into Safety
Feeling safe will create the type of community that can prosper. Locals and those outside the community can recognize a safe community. Are you ready to take steps to develop an emotional safety net for your businesses and organizations?
The harness was placed around my waist and over my shoulders. The fabric straps were made of military-grade poly-something. The same goes for the aluminum clips and connectors. All were made of the highest grade aluminum, strong enough to handle the weight of two pachyderms.
Two technicians wearing smart uniforms worked together to strap me in. They seemed serious and reassuring. One called out the connection, “Left shoulder strap Connected,” said the one making the connection. “Left shoulder strap connected!” yelled back the second technician, grabbing and pulling on both ends of the shoulder strap to see if, indeed, they were connected.
All the connections went through this double-check. One guy is making the connections, the other is affirming the connections. They went through all the connections, eight in all, including the giant rubber band that would be connected to me like an umbilical cord, granting me life just like the one that assured my life at birth.
They did this with military precision, and their actions were swift and precise. A third manager-type technician stood by observing, and upon all the connections having been completed, he stepped forward like he was about to push me, but instead went through all the connections, yelling out each one and checking each one, shaking my body as he pushed and pulled on each connection.
The calling out of connections bordered on the dramatic. Still, for myself and everyone around me, including those waiting their turn, the technicians’ assuring tones created a sense of safety for me, their willing victim, er, their customer.
I stood on the edge of the bridge, waiting for what seemed like an eternity, sweating and wondering briefly if everything would be alright. It was voluntary. No one would push me. I could stop and quit right now if I wanted to. But I was safe, wasn’t I? All that military-grade material and the military style calling out of connections should have assured me that everything would be safe and I could careen off the side of the platform connected to a substantial human-sized rubberband attached to the underside of the platform.
“When was the last time they checked that connection? Did they yell, then? I forgot to ask. Oh well, I could always say my demise came doing something adventurous that I went out with a literal splash. Wait, when did I decide to do this, and to whom would I say this if I were dead?
Safety is our number one concern in life. Although we don’t think about it or talk about it daily, it is part of our daily ritual. We drive carefully, staying on our side of the road and obeying traffic signals to reach our destination safely. As a child, we are taught not to stick metal objects into the electrical receptacle to keep us safe from electrocution. We purchase smoke detectors in our homes to keep us safe from fires. We carry pepper spray on our key chains to keep us safe from would-be attackers.
We do all these things to keep us safe from physical harm, but what about emotional or psychological safety? What do we do to keep us safe from emotional harm? How do we create family units, organizations, and businesses where people feel emotionally safe?
In his book The Culture Code, Daniel Coyle argues that successful organizations with a positive culture provide a feeling of safety. They provide a level of safety that allows people to learn and support each other. These organizations certainly have societal safety elements built in to prevent physical harm, and the most positive and successful organizations also have protocols and values that allow for emotional and psychological safety.
These organizations and businesses ensure that ideas that innovate and advance the company or organization’s mission are welcomed and discussed with vigor. Successful businesses welcome and promote taking risks without the specter of punishment or shame if an idea or project doesn’t work out. Organizations with a positive culture encourage learning and personal growth.
Successful organizations are positioned to do all these things because, as shared in previous posts, the people in those organizations feel (and are) connected, have a positive and shared view of the future, and, as we argue today, feel safe. All three elements must be present for a positive organizational culture in an orgainzation.
How does this apply to communities? Of the three elements, this is the easiest one to apply. As a society, we obsess over safety statistics. Mayors and other leaders like to talk about how they have a handle on crime and how safe their communities are, yet are they? Do people feel safe? There is a difference between how people think and what is happening.
Crime statistics in a city’s data portfolio can indicate a safe community. Still, the community won’t feel very safe if there are no living-wage jobs, streets are in disrepair, vacant housing is prevalent, and education is failing.
This makes it hard to do anything. You can throw as many festivals and feel-good programs as you want, but if people don’t feel safe, they won’t. It is about the intrinsic emotional needs of the collective community. It is about giving everyone, with an emphasis on everyone, a collective sense of emotional and psychological safety.
Whether you are a community leader, elected or appointed, or an economic development professional, this is the hardest thing to accomplish. So much of providing this type of safety is out of your hands. Global politics and economics and events like pandemics that impact local economies and disrupt standard patterns of commerce are out of your hands.
Like the bungee jump technicians, one must ensure the jumper is ready to go and feels safe and confident. The jumper, in this case, is your community. Shouting and reaffirming the connections is as critical for a community as it is for a business or individual ready to make the leap.
Here are some suggestions for generating safety in your community for exponential success and a positive culture:
Community Engagement Initiatives — Promote the implementation, with collaborators, of programs and initiatives that foster community engagement and connection, particularly as they relate to economic issues.
Encourage collaboration between local businesses, schools, non-profit organizations, and residents to create a sense of unity and shared purpose. For example, making a mentoring program and encouraging private sector businesses to train and employ youth can generate trust and empowerment.
Support Investment in Innovative Economic Development — Focus on creating a thriving local economy with diverse job opportunities and accessible resources for all residents. Support small businesses through initiatives that spur startup opportunities, “buy local” programs, and nurture existing businesses.
Infrastructure and Services — Ensure the community has adequate infrastructure and services, such as well-maintained roads, public transportation, street lighting, and emergency response systems. Investing in these areas can help residents feel secure in their physical surroundings and emotional safety.
Provide access to mental health services, counseling, and support networks for individuals experiencing emotional or psychological distress. Creating a culture of support and empathy can contribute to a sense of emotional safety within the community.
Promotion of Inclusivity and Diversity — Celebrate and embrace the community’s diversity by encouraging dialogue and understanding between different cultural, racial, and socio-economic groups to foster a sense of inclusion and acceptance.
By implementing these strategies, a community can create an environment where residents feel physically, emotionally, and psychologically safe, fostering a positive shared future and strong connections among its members. This is critical for economic development and long-term success.
As you look over the edge and see how high you are, you want to know that all the harnesses, clips, and connections are tight, sound, and secure. Feeling safe is critical to jumping in and creating success. The same goes for the community. Everyone wants to be harnessed in and know that they will prosper no matter what risks are taken.
To learn more about connected communities and how to create connected cultures, contact me at martin@martinkarlconsulting.com.
I write about these topics in my weekly newsletter, Curated Morning. You can read archived versions and subscribe by clicking here.
I have developed resources related to the business startup culture, climate change, and business mentoring. You can access those downloads here.
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