117. Why People Don’t Tell You They Feel Unsafe

What does it really mean when nobody in your program, community or service has ever told you they felt unsafe?It could mean everyone had a positive experience. It could also mean the people who felt uncomfortable decided that saying something carried more risk than staying silent.Speaking honestly is rarely a neutral act when one person holds greater access, influence or authority. Long before someone raises a concern, they are paying attention to how disagreement is received, whose experiences are taken seriously and what happens to people who challenge the status quo.In this episode, I examine the conditions that can make honesty difficult, even inside businesses led by thoughtful, well-intentioned people. I also reflect on Adam Goodes’ experience of calling out racism in the AFL and consider how the response may have differed if Compassion, Accountability, Relationship and Equity had shaped the leadership surrounding him.This conversation may challenge what you have assumed about safety, silence and the culture people experience inside your business.I’ll be continuing this work inside my free live workshop, Creating a Culture of Care In Your Business, on Tuesday 15 September at 10am AEST.Register for the free live workshop:https://anniegichuru.com/workshop/