Creating safe creative spaces with Make Your Noise Founder Jamie Wise
Creative entrepreneur and Groov Office Manager Jamie Wise shares how she facilitates safe creative spaces for all.
If leaders want to see more creativity in the workplace, they must create spaces where people feel safe to share new ideas.
Creativity requires courage and vulnerability, especially at work. People need to feel safe enough to make mistakes, learn through doing, and embrace progress over perfection.
So, how can leaders facilitate safe creative spaces? What can they do to set people up for creative success?
Jamie Wise is here to help. As the founder of variety show Make Your Noise, as well as a singer, songwriter, and Groov’s much-loved office manager, Jamie is an expert at creating safe spaces for creativity to flourish.
Here are some of Jamie’s top tips for creating safe creative spaces.
Start with vulnerability
Vulnerability is baked into the very definition of creativity, which is ‘the ability to make or otherwise bring into existence something new’. And newness is risky! With every new idea there’s the risk of being judged or making a mistake.
For people to feel safe to propose new ideas, Jamie believes they must see leaders modelling vulnerability.
“You can’t expect people to be vulnerable unless you’re vulnerable yourself,” says Jamie. “Lead in a way that shows others they are safe to make mistakes. People will only feel as comfortable, silly, joyful, or authentically themselves as you are, so lead by example.”
Jamie says there hasn’t been a single Make Your Noise event where she hasn’t made a mistake on stage – and the show has been running for nearly three years.
“I mess up my own stuff almost 100% of the time. But I laugh at my own mistakes and that allows everyone else to laugh along with me.”
Create boundaries not rules
Boundaries are a great way to help everyone feel safe and on the same page. They are different from rules (a rule requires a follower and an enforcer) and more like an exchange where everyone is held accountable.
“Boundaries can be anything – how we behave in a space, expectations around turning up on time, listening while others are speaking or performing,” says Jamie.
Taking the time to agree on some shared boundaries before diving into creative work can make a world of difference to how safe people feel to share. Jamie suggests discussing boundaries openly upfront to help level the playing field.
“Boundaries can look and feel different for everyone in the room, so allowing for open discussions about what they mean and sharing what individual needs are can level the playing field and allow for people to bring their best selves.”
Strive for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging
For people to feel safe to create, they must also feel as though they belong – as though they feel seen, supported, and included. Not only is this the right thing to do, it can also support better creative outcomes.
“Look at who’s in your room,” advises Jamie. “If you want real creativity, your room has to hold all the people who you feel your organisation represents or you want your organisation to reach. If you’re all the same, you’re going to have a very specific brand of creativity.”
Read more: The Groov guide to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB)
Aim for progress over perfection
Creative perfection is a myth, a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow – sparkling, alluring, always just out of reach. Jamie’s mantra is “progress over perfection”.
“Progress is my discipline. I think when we’re working on anything creative, we want it to be the best. But you’ve also got to ask the question: what is the best version of this with the resources, capacity and time I have available?” says Jamie.
Jamie also suggests giving ideas time to breathe by factoring in plenty of time for reflection.
“Try not to assign a value to what you’re creating too early. What can feel like a great idea in the moment can be absolutely terrible, and vice versa,” says Jamie. “Let things marinate, give them space, and seek plenty of feedback from all those involved before making final decisions.”
Understand impact vs. intent
When it comes to fostering creativity in the workplace, most people have great intentions. But there’s a difference between intent and impact. Sometimes, good intentions can still produce problematic impact, especially in terms of your final audience.
How can we make sure our impact is aligned with our intent?
“It really comes down to speaking your own truth instead of trying to speak for others, being authentic, and leading with empathy,” says Jamie.
Jamie herself understands this isn’t always avoidable though, and genuine honest mistakes happen.
“In that case, it’s always best to sincerely apologise to those who may have experienced hurt, seek to understand what the impact is (the intent becomes irrelevant) and take it on board as a learning.”
Have fun
Last, but not least, have fun! Safe creative spaces tend to be spaces where people feel comfortable to laugh, relax, and enjoy the ups and downs of the creative process.
“Just remember, creativity belongs to everyone. What you bring to the table is unique and important, so be brave, make mistakes and let yourself shine.”
About Jamie
Our much-loved Office Manager Jamie Wise is a singer, songwriter, creative entrepreneur, and proud dog mum. She’s also the Founder of Make Your Noise, known as the kindest stage in Auckland.