Why Psychological Safety Requires an ‘Adult-Adult’ Approach and not ‘Parent-Child’

CAOS

Why psychological safety requires an ‘adult-adult’ approach and not ‘parent-child’.

In this video and podcast, Alan discusses the risks to an environment of psychological safety at work when the approach taken is a 'parent-child' one. He outlines features of commentaries that he has come across that can imply people at work start with a 'blank slate', having no real conception or awareness of their own capacity for developing their own psychological safety at work.

But people will always bring their own awareness and capacities for this whether they label it as psychological safety or not and so to use an approach that can suggest it has to be 'created for' employees and team members rather than for them to develop and grow it for themselves, together, as peers is akin to a 'parent-child' approach rather than an 'adult-adult' one.

Alan looks at two ways in which he has seen this and characterises them as 'the blank slate' idea and the 'It's organic, not linear' critique.

This is the link to the video interview referred to at 4:15 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O-CbvTfcqk

Please share your thoughts and questions in the comments section.

Alan Sharland has been a Mediator and Conflict Coach for over 27 years working in a wide range of dispute situations including neighbour disputes, workplace disputes, complaints (NHS, Special Educational Needs, University Student), group disputes and others.

He was Director of a community mediation service in West London for 11 years and now runs CAOS Conflict Management. https://www.caos-conflict-management.co.uk

Connect with Alan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alansharland

Train in the CAOS Model of Mediation: https://www.caos-conflict-management.co.uk/mediation-training-course.html

Train in the CAOS Model of Conflict Coaching: https://www.caos-conflict-management.co.uk/conflict-coaching-training.html

Check out and like the Communication and Conflict Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/communicationandconflict/

Visit the Communication and Conflict website: https://www.communicationandconflict.com

Books and ebooks:

How to Resolve Bullying in the Workplace: Stepping Out of the Circle of Blame to Create an Effective Outcome for All https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Resolve-Bullying-Workplace-Effective/dp/1511941316

A Guide To Effective Communication for Conflict Resolution - How Mindful Communication Supports Growth Through Conflict. Purchase the book at this link on amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1790335221

CREDITS

Outro Music: All Colours Pt 6 by Bob Holroyd, from album Hollowman: https://music.apple.com/us/album/hollowman/677559200