A safety rule is a working agreement that a group explicitly accepts to protect open, respectful participation. It gives a facilitator and participants a shared reference point when behavior undermines the session. Rules are not imposed once and forgotten: the group can add or change them, but only with everyone’s agreement. section 6.3.2 section 6.5
Establish safety rules at the beginning, alongside the agenda, roles, and expectations. Ask for explicit consent rather than assuming silence means agreement; a raised-hand check can confirm that everyone understands and accepts the rules. Invite participants to contribute rules that help them participate safely. section 6.3.2
Use safety rules as a facilitation practice:
- Name a rule that supports open discussion, such as “nobody holds the monopoly to the truth.” section 6.3.2 section 8.3.2
- Adapt rules to the setting; for an online session, agree to disable unnecessary notifications and communication programs. section 6.3.2
- Pause for disagreement about a rule before continuing, rather than allowing an unresolved objection to remain implicit. section 6.3.2
- Refer back to the agreement when the group shows a pattern of not complying with it. section 6.5 section 8.3.2
Opening two modeling groups
When a larger group divides into smaller modeling groups, begin by discussing safety agreements before work starts. Ask whether participants understand and agree that no one has a monopoly on the truth. The agreement can support participation across divergent models and provide a way to address later patterns that exclude or silence viewpoints. section 8.3.2 section 8.3.2
Safety rules work with, rather than replace, attention to rank, social power, resistance, and conflict. A facilitator still needs neutrality and observation to notice tensions and emotionally charged hotspots. The rules provide a shared boundary for addressing those moments without treating one person’s perspective as the only valid account. section 6.3.2 section 8.3.2
