Creating Safe Spaces

We as communicators hold ourselves to high standards and because of that, often feel the weight of our orgs’ and clients’ stances on our shoulders.

Slow or lack of DEI-related progress can be frustrating.

Last week’s Comm Convo with LGBTQ+ advocate Lex Clay reminded us, however, of the power of leading by example to create safe spaces – which we are usually in a position to do as comms practitioners.

Those actions that you might perceive as little could make a world of difference to someone in an underrepresented or marginalized community, he said.

Visible examples here are wearing a small pride pin, having a sticker in your office, or adding pronouns to your Zoom name and email signature.

He also pointed out that how we typically comport ourselves and being sensitive to the issues, showing compassion, does not go unnoticed.

Lex spoke of a world in the future when maybe we no longer need awareness days and months because we as a society have built the infrastructure to truly support representation, and also integration, of diverse communities.

Until then, though, yes, while we can continue to do our part to advocate for systemic change, we can still make an impact by creating safe spaces for friends and colleagues, and not taking for granted those so-called small actions.

This week, we challenge you to think twice about those day-to-day actions that could facilitate safe spaces. Use your position as a face of the company or a speaker for leadership to model and inspire inclusive behavior.

As Lex said, “The people who need the help or the comfort will know that you’re safe.”