Social safety is a subject we can all relate to. It’s a prerequisite for people to be able to work, to be able to learn, to make a useful contribution and to grow. In a socially safe work environment, you are allowed to make mistakes. You feel at ease and know you can be yourself, which allows you to maximise your potential. It’s the kind of environment where we deal with each other respectfully, can rely on each other and can discuss unsafe situations in a safe manner. This kind of environment is something we must create together.
The following skills and know-how are crucial to the ability to create a safe work environment:
- The ability to give and receive feedback.
- The ability to recognise and identify emotions.
- The ability to mediate in and resolve emerging conflict.
- The ability to act when you witness inappropriate behaviour.
- An awareness of personal and cultural values and how they may differ from one person to the next.
- The courage to open up, make mistakes and learn from them.
If you wish to work on these skills and learn more, the activities outlined below may help you do so.
When you work together you sometimes run into problems with the other person. For example, you think that your colleague is not handling something properly, you are irritated by a missed appointment or you are angry because someone is late again. It is not always easy to give this back in a connecting way. Your colleague becomes defensive or a discussion arises. Maybe next time you'll decide to keep it to yourself.
| More information | TOP training |
The ability to give feedback is crucial to a safe work environment. By regularly giving constructive feedback, you will boost the atmosphere on the work floor and help your colleagues perform better. It can be a challenging or difficult thing to do. This online training course will give you suggestions as to how to give feedback in an effective and respectful manner.
| Take the course | GoodHabitz |
People have tried for centuries to find the best way to give others constructive criticism, but somehow or other, we are still bad at it. In this video, cognitive psychologist LeeAnn Renninger shares an evidence-based method of giving effective feedback.
In addition to being able to give proper feedback, we must also be able to receive feedback. Both abilities help us do a better job of collaborating, being more confident and creating a pleasant atmosphere on the work floor. How to welcome feedback? This article outlines 5 steps that will make you more receptive to feedback.
Connection-based communication is all about being in touch with your own values and needs, as well as those of other people. It’s a powerful tool that will allow you to build connection, understanding and clarity, even in tricky situations. In this training course, you will learn how to recognise and identify your own emotions and express them honestly, but you will also learn how to listen to others empathetically and without judgment. Practical exercises and a safe setting will teach you how to communicate in a way designed to build a connection.
| Learn more about this course | TOP training |
This programme will teach you what emotions are and how to recognise your own emotions. In addition, you will practise using emotion control methods.
‘You can’t just flip a switch when you step into the office and turn your emotions off. Feeling feelings is part of being human,’ says author and illustrator Liz Fosslien. In this video, she explains why selective vulnerability is the key to being able to bring your authentic self to work.
Connection-based communication is also known as nonviolent communication. This method was established by the psychologist Marshall Rosenberg. If you want to learn more about it, be sure to read his book.
Rosenberg, M B (2015). Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life.
If you are having a dispute with someone, it must be able to be discussed in a safe manner. Social safety can be ensured by means of repressive instruments, among other things. In this online training course, you will learn how to manage conflict calmly and professionally.
| Click here to take the training course | GoodHabitz |
In this programme, you will learn how to focus on reflection rather than reaction in disputes. In addition, you will practise using certain methods that will help you deal with conflict.
What constitutes a safe work environment? What is needed to create one? And what kinds of things prevent a work environment from being safe? How to deal with bullying, discrimination and inappropriate behaviour on the work floor? You will learn all these things in this e-learning course.
| Click here to take the training course | GoodHabitz |
Do you know how to respond when you witness inappropriate behaviour such as bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, insults or discrimination? This Active Bystander training course will help you intervene when you witness behaviour that is unacceptable. We can organise this course for teams upon request. If you feel it’s important that your team seek to improve social safety, please contact TOP to discuss your options: top@eur.nl
| More information | TOP training |
How do your values affect your behaviour? How ethically do people behave on the work floor? This training course will teach you everything you need to know about integrity and responsibility.
| Click here to take the training course | GoodHabitz |
The Intercultural Communication workshop is designed to increase the participants’ awareness of cultural diversity and practise intercultural communication. It provides tools and inspiration that will allow you to keep learning and reflecting on future intercultural interactions and on your own intercultural competencies. Do you want your team to work on intercultural communication? If so, please contact TOP to discuss your options: top@eur.nl
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This programme provides an in-depth look at diversity and authenticity – at being truly able and allowed to be yourself. When you feel safe enough to be unapologetically yourself, you will be able to inspire others to be unapologetically themselves, as well. In this way, you will get to accept yourself and others as you/they are, and maybe you’ll even inspire others to accept themselves.
In-depth learning
Check in to access more online learning opportunities and personal insights:
- Go to OpenUp and sign up | https://my.openup.com/login
- Choose the ‘Relationships and Diversity’ theme
- Start check-in
Did you know that OpenUp offers you fast and easy access to psychologists by telephone, chat or video call? You can read more about OpenUp here.
An awareness of personal and cultural values and how they may differ from one person to the next is a major prerequisite for a safe work environment. Another thing that is required is awareness of the role played by your own culture and cultural sensitivity. We work in an international and multicultural organisation where people from different backgrounds share a work floor. How to deal with these cultural differences? This online training course will teach you what you need to know.
| Click here to take the training course | GoodHabitz |
In a safe work environment, there is room to make mistakes, open up and learn from each other. That takes a bit of courage! This brief workshop will help you build your courage. You will discuss self-confidence in relation to the things you do, and learn how to become more self-confident. In addition, you will learn how to recognise moments where you should stand up and be courageous. You will also learn how to have greater faith in yourself and how to deal with failure.
| Click here for more information | TOP training |
Failure is only useful if you actually learn something from it. If you wish to learn how to go about that, be sure to take the ‘Power of Failure’ training course.
| Click here to take the training course | GoodHabitz |
Carol Dweck conducts research on a growth mindset – the idea that we can grow our brain’s capacity to learn and solve problems. In this talk, she describes two ways to think about a problem that’s slightly too hard for you to solve.
Brené Brown studies human connection – our ability to empathise, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share.