Embracing Whole Selves: Cultivating Psychological Safety and Diversity in Meetings
Thoughts, emotions, and ideas
At Lizard Brain, we believe in the transformative power of visual and experiential methods in group decision-making. But beneath the charts and sticky notes, there’s a deeper element at the heart of successful collaboration: the genuine presence of each participant, fostered through psychological safety and diversity.
Taking inspiration from Frederic Laloux's "Reinventing Organizations," we believe that inviting our whole selves into meetings enriches the dialogue and drives more meaningful outcomes, whether we’re doing strategic planning, team building, change management, culture change, and organizational development.
Integration: the Principle of the Whole Self
Imagine entering a meeting room where you're encouraged to bring your full spectrum of thoughts, emotions, and ideas. The focus shifts from presenting data to sharing diverse perspectives. All perspectives are welcome, whether from a place of logic, intuition, emotion, or core beliefs. This challenges the traditional business’s preference for purely rational analysis. It opens the door to authentic, transformative conversations by welcoming all facets of our identities.
Steps for Including the Whole Self
Set clear intentions: Begin each meeting by establishing the intention to create a safe, inclusive environment. Use a visual aid to depict the concept of the 'whole self' and invite participants to ponder their hidden depths.
Foster open dialogue: Encourage participants to share their egos and deeper selves, allowing space for emotions, intuitions, and values alongside data-driven insights. Ask open-ended questions that invite storytelling and personal insights.
Create safety with clear ground rules: Introduce and uphold principles that promote safety and inclusion. Invite participants to contribute to these guiding principles, ensuring they reflect the group's collective values.
Practice active listening: Emphasize the importance of listening to understand, not just to respond. Validate and empathize. Acknowledge contributions made from the heart as much as those from the head. Use language like, “I can see how you feel that way,” and “I can understand why you’d say that” (being VERY mindful that your tone of voice and body language align with those statements.)
Encourage vulnerability: Lead by example. Share your own experiences or moments of vulnerability to illustrate the power of bringing one's whole self to the table.
Invite feedback and adaptation: After each meeting, solicit feedback on the process. What worked? What could be improved? Use this input to refine and enhance future sessions.
The Impact on Organizational Development
When we show up with our whole selves, it builds trust. Regardless of background, people can share what they authentically believe. At Lizard Brain, we make meetings a time for people to connect with each other and make great things happen. We believe that trust is the foundation upon which teams can use all their strengths. Trust leads to better decision-making, a shared mindset of growth and collaboration, and a work environment where team members want to do their best work.
We create a place where everyone can share their thoughts. At Lizard Brain, we’re excited to help you make this change, one meeting at a time. Contact us today.