Getting to Know You: Safety in a Learning Event

Take a moment to think about a time when you attended a workshop and entered a room full of unfamiliar faces. What feelings did you experience? Anticipation, fear, maybe excitement. Rogers and Hammerstein’s famous song lyrics come to mind “Getting to know you, getting to feel free and easy. When I am with you, getting to know what to say.”

For me, the first step to get to know folks and create safety is a quick survey sent out before the workshop begins. A mini LNRA (Learning Needs and Resources Assessment) which includes questions to discover learners’ experiences and prior knowledge of the topic, what’s important to them as learners, and what they hope to take away and use later. Learners have approached me during trainings to say how much they appreciated the opportunity to reflect on their needs and felt validated even before the first meeting.

As facilitators we create the foundation for people to be okay with being vulnerable with each other and with the content. Our goal is for people feel seen and heard and be more open to take risks with new information.

It’s the same as that first dance of the evening, a few brave folks move to the dance floor. They’re a bit wobbly in the beginning, but once the music starts to flow, a few more people have the courage to get up on the floor, and before you know it, everyone is busting a move together.

This is my hope for a learning-centred event; the creation of a safe space where people have the courage to share their experiences, learn new ideas, and have the confidence to try out some unfamiliar dance moves together.

Sashaying along with the theme of music, let’s not forget how music can increase safety by grounding people as they enter, helping them feel at ease, enhancing reflection, as well as energizing folks to move activities along. Gauge the learners throughout the workshop to ensure the type and the volume of music is appropriate throughout.

Before you know it, you will be making beautiful music together.