Safe Spaces but Insecure Landlords

I have recently been reflecting on the idea of "safe spaces". The word has been used probably over a million times in the last five years in corporate and smaller communities of people and professionals.I had an experience recently that made me reflect on what we truly mean by "safe spaces". I went in for a virtual meeting, and the moderator stated clearly from the start of the conversation that we were there for candid and critical discussions. The moderator asked us all to speak our minds and hit the nail on the head. There was also the use of "safe space", as usual by the moderator.The meeting was a strategy session to give feedback on a particular project already failing. We have been asked to review the situation and identify loopholes and questions to help the organization progress with the project. Only two people on the call work for the organization in question, the rest of us were invited differently to help out.Some of my colleagues started highlighting what they have noticed as the reason for some of the failures they have seen with the project. Almost all of their concerns bother on the leadership and management style of the topmost leader in the organization, who happened to be on the call. As some of the feedback was presented, I noticed that this top leader was interrupting everything people said. The leader was already showing signs of paranoia.I raised my hand and was given the floor to speak. I asked this leader just two questions because the other colleagues have said everything I had in mind to communicate. As if I had opened an already about to burst water pipe, this leader descended heavily on me with verbal barrels, and one profound thing he said to me was, "I don't like your gut." While others called the leader out to reacting in such an erratic manner to two simple questions, I was calm. When he was done, I told him that the project had been failing because of the attitude he had just exhibited. We all left the meeting disappointed. The same person who wanted a "safe-pace" could not withstand the emotions that come with "safe space."Below are my takeaways;- You can not create a safe space if you are insecure and hate feedback.- Most organizations use the "safe space" slogan to lure people into speaking their minds and picking a scapegoat.- The foundation for creating a "safe space" is emotional intelligence and empathy.- Any "safe-space" void of emotionally intelligent people is a "chaotic and deceptive space".- Don't speak truth to power because you have been told it is a safe space; speak it because you are convinced and ready to face its consequences.Oluwaseun David ADEPOJU