People are more likely to do fun-loving, zany, creative, interesting things when they feel safe. Is anyone else a closet living room dancer? We feel safe in our homes. We may feel safe with our best friends or with our close-knit team.
Also, people are more likely to do fun-loving, zany, creative, interesting things when other people are doing them.When it is socially acceptable, even social expected to doodle, dance, laugh, brainstorm, take on another’s persona, we will do all these things because it is safe to do so.
No one wants to put themselves out there when it is unsafe.
When the audience is against you. When the boss mocks bad ideas. When peers throw each other under the bus. When no one else has attempted this before. When the conversation is new. When it is not safe, we are far less likely to try the new thing.
So try to engage people in a whole new way, gauge their reaction you will learn how safe staff, the board and members feel at the association. Now you can go about making it safer for them to do fun-loving, zany, creative and interesting things.
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