Strictly: Why a chaperone just won't solve the problem

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26.

July

2024.

Strictly: Why a chaperone just won't solve the problem

Two experts in Psychological Safety available to comment on the Strictly story: Tom Geraghty and Jade Garratt

If you'd like to interview either of them, their comments/ quotes would be:

What should have been done / what could be done

"We know that these are high-pressure, competitive environments, and a lot of the performers have come through drama schools and academies that put a lot of pressure on them to succeed. It's a very "survival of the fittest" industry. It's sadly no great surprise that things like this happen, but that doesn't make it ok. Many people in this industry have learned, even unconsciously, that success is everything - and any behaviour is acceptable in order to be successful.

One thing that should be done is for everyone to agree to, and be held accountable for maintaining, a well defined code of conduct and behavioural standards. Making these expectations explicit and agreed to means that, hopefully, less of this behaviour happens, but it also means that when it does, there is an explicit acknowledgement that it's acceptable, and expected, to raise a concern".

What is Psychological Safety and how could it benefit the BBC

"Psychological safety is the belief that it is safe in this environment to take interpersonal risks. It's safe to suggest ideas, ask for help, raise concerns or admit mistakes. Since the 1970s and multiple deadly aviation accidents, it's been recognised as a foundation for preventing disaster, through enabling people to speak up with concerns, even if that means challenging someone in power, and even if you're wrong about your concern.

We've seen multiple issues at the BBC over the years that could have been prevented, or at least addressed much earlier and reduced the harm caused, if people had felt safe in speaking up to power. If they'd felt safe that they wouldn't be attacked, punished, excluded, or had their careers impacted if they raised concerns".

Why a chaperone watching in the room just won't solve the problem

"A chaperone in the room actually amplifies the point that there *is* a problem! We don't want to create an environment where people only behave well if there's someone watching, and nor do we want to frame the environment that "you'll only be believed if there's someone to back up your story". We need to set the foundations for good behaviour in the first place, byt setting explicit expectations regarding what that behaviour is, and listen to people as soon as they raise concerns, so we don't have to wait for something awful to happen before listening".

Our mission is: to make the world of work a safer, higher performing, more inclusive and equitable place.

https://psychsafety.co.uk/the-psychsafety-mission/