The Power of Confession: Fostering Safe Spaces for Team Sharing

Believe it or not, despite the wealth of data and AI-search capabilities at our fingertips, many individuals and, consequently, teams find themselves lost in conflicting subjectivity.

Fostering safe places at work for team sharing is more important than ever. People are craving a safe way to ask tough questions.

Is it time for confessionals?

Research shows that "we're all seeking support and consensus to help us navigate what's right and true." And while this research is general, the reality is not different at work.

One example highlighted in the research is the rise of the Reddit thread r/TrueOffMyChest. This thread has grown by +345% YoY, and became one of the Top 30 most viewed subreddits. People crave a safe place to come clean!

Enter the confessional. A team-building exercise idea worth trying for these trying times.

In today's highly competitive and occasionally unforgiving workplace, there are limited opportunities for safe social sharing. That's where the concept of the confessional comes in. The confessional offers an opportunity to address minor yet culturally harmful behaviors that may cause systematic unrest, such as expressing discomfort with a colleague bringing their dog to work, and similar issues*.

The confessional can also serve as an act of radical candor, allowing the air to be cleared. However, it must be guided and approached with care. Speaking the unspoken and providing a platform for feelings to be heard can have tremendous value for teams. This is not the time for offering solutions, but an opportunity to safely share feelings, enabling teams and management to gain the necessary knowledge to address ongoing issues more effectively.

Now, it's your turn. Anything you need to confess?

* This exercise should not be used to forgive corporate misdeeds or tolerate sexual harassment—there is no space for that, ever.