Cause I’ve Got No Interest in "Safe Spaces"

“You do a great job of creating a really safe space for everyone.”

I shuddered when I recently heard this feedback from a member of a team I was facilitating. Creating a "safe space" has become the buzzword of the decade, but honestly, it is never my objective as a facilitator.

Don’t get me wrong—I have nothing against psychological safety. But psychological safety is simply a condition that enables good things to happen. It allows people to open up and build connection and trust. But safety, by itself, is not the goal.

I recently interviewed author Daniel Coyle for the podcast (episode coming April 2026) about his new book Flourish, which I cannot recommend enough. He spends a lot of time discussing the importance of leaders creating space, but I noticed he never uses the term "safe space." I asked him why. His response was spot on:

“I’m not crazy about that term, because it implies you wrap people in bubble wrap. What’s the deeper point of safety? Courage. They should call them 'brave spaces.' It’s actually not about being safe; it’s about feeling strong, secure, and connected enough to say, ‘I’m going to speak up. I’m nervous and it’s a vulnerable thing to do, but I feel brave enough to do it.’”

So no, I’m not interested in creating safe spaces; I’m interested in creating the conditions for people to step into fear, not away from it.

I am passionate about seeing people sit in vulnerability, uncertainty, and risk—the three requirements for courage*—and choosing to put themselves on the line anyway. Whether it’s voicing a difficult opinion in a high-stakes meeting or being open about something as personal as your faith, it is the act of allowing yourself to be seen as you really are.

The world doesn’t need more bubble wrap. It needs more courage.

-J.P. Nerbun

*As outlined in Brené Brown’s Strong Ground.

**Thanks to Garth Brooks and his song "Friends in Low Places" for the title inspiration.