The TERA tactics for safety
Is it possible to feel safe in the musical workplace, psychologically? To speak up, take risks, or share a mistake without the fear of retribution?
Where do we even start? How do we achieve this? It can feel impossible when we've come to expect shame after we've made a mistake or when we're so scared of being wrong. If we shared what we really think, what others would think? What would happen to us?
It's a low-hum fear that permeates our experience. And we're probably not even aware of it, since it's so prevalent and "normal."
Having said that, safety is a worthy pursuit.
To make it feel less daunting, we could use some tangible tactics.
Thankfully, leadership author and coach Michael Bungay Stanier has four practical tactics to help people feel safe. He uses the acronym TERA - tribe, expectations, rank, and autonomy. (From his book The Advice Trap.)
All of them are relevant to us! And most importantly, they are founded on what our brains universally want to feel safe:
Tribe - our brain wants to know if you're with me or against me
We can show we're with them simply by being interested in them, what's important to them, and acknowledging their thoughts and feelings. All it takes is asking a question with curiosity.
Expectations - our brain wants to know what's going to happen
We can show them the future by using numbers to prime expectations ("We have 4 sections to cover today in rehearsal") or using time to set up a container ("In the next 10 minutes, we are going to…"). These tiny beginnings, endings, and transitions actually make us feel safe.
Rank - our brain wants to feel we're at least equal to each other
Within hierarchies and power structures, safety can be an illusion. True safety comes from the absence of power over others. Leaders can raise people up by saying "your opinion counts" and balance the rank by saying "I could be wrong here…"Autonomy - our brain wants to have a choice
We can search for the little things where we can give them a choice. We can give them the parameters of "what" and give them autonomy to pursue the "how." Feeling like we have a bit of choice (whenever we can get it) always feels good.
How could you use the TERA tactics in your next engagement with your musicians - on stage, in the hallway, or in the coffee shop?
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