Psychological safety
Authority without humiliation
Transparency as trust
Power over vs power with
Misuse of “values language”
In relational cultures, the word safe matters deeply. (This article may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, Staying Human may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and services that I genuinely believe are valuable). In a culture of gentleness, as per Gentle Teaching International,…
Reflections on language, culture, and care I recently had the privilege of attending Gentle Teaching Level 3 training at the COR Academy in Regina, SK, and I have been reflecting on one simple but powerful truth: Words matter. Not only what we say, but how we say it. In any home, workplace, or community, the…
Not everyone experiences the workplace the same way. Some people walk in focused and comfortable.Others walk in carrying histories you cannot see. Sexualized stories don’t land as “funny” or “open” for everyone.For some, they land as unsafe. And once that line is crossed, the environment changes. This isn’t about sensitivity. It’s about safety. You don’t…
Staying Human, When Systems Don’t This reflection represents my personal experience and interpretation of events. It is shared as part of an ongoing effort to understand how power, safety, and systems interact in real-world environments. I am not vengeful, but I want my day in court – so to speak… Staying Human is a very…
This is so familiar – and that’s why we don’t see it. (This is so familiar and that’s why I didn’t see it) I thought I was dealing with a workplace issue. An unaware, immature manager with an inflated fragile ego. A series of uncomfortable interactions that didn’t sit right, but it triggered something deep…
(Staying Human) We Often Look for the Problem in People The immature or unaware leader (manager, parent, supervisor).The silent employee.The incompetent/protected employee.The one who spoke and disrupted the room – or the “acting out” child. But sometimes the issue isn’t any one person. It’s the system they are operating inside. Because there are environments where…
—and made choices (Staying Human) You didn’t all respond the same way. But you knew what was happening. In moments like these, people rarely divide into “good” and “bad.” They divide into something quieter. Those who speak. Those who stay silent. And those who help shape the story that follows. Some of you helped rewrite…
What Psychological Safety Actually Feels Like We talk about psychological safety often. It shows up in policies, training modules, leadership language, and strategic plans. It’s become a goal—something organizations say they value. But less often do we stop and ask: What does it actually feel like to work in a psychologically safe environment? Not in…
Discussions about misogyny often focus on the harm experienced by women. That harm is real and significant. But there is another side to the conversation that deserves attention: the role men play in either sustaining or interrupting it. Misogyny does not exist only in extreme acts or openly hostile beliefs. More often it appears in…
We’re talking about work. Why not just show up, do your job, take your breaks, go home, and leave it there? Many people do exactly that. We call it work/life balance. And for some, it works. But is it fulfilling? We spend the majority of our waking adult lives at work. Showing up to complete…
