Safe Danger: An Unexpected Method for Sparking Connection, Finding Purpose, and Inspiring Innovation

An award-winning designer and former Design Lead at the iconic innovation firm IDEO teaches how to use small, creative risks to build trust, inspire connection, and supercharge employee engagement.

In a world where safety easily becomes stagnation and risk is seen as a threat, Ben Swire's counterintuitive book, Safe Danger, offers a refreshing perspective on how playful creativity can balance those two forces to unlock personal and professional growth.

Ask people what they want from life and you'll hear: inspiring experiences, exciting work, meaningful relationships, and making a difference. But ask how they're doing on that wish list, and you'll likely find it's still just that: a wish list. That's because those things require intimidating risks like vulnerability, disappointment, and trust. As a result, we end up with a chasm between what we want and what we're willing to do to get it. In Safe Danger, Ben Swire has developed a suite of creative activities that combine safety and risk to spur emotional growth.

Drawing on the latest research and years of experience, this entertaining book explains how and why his playful approach is so effective at helping people manage fear and make change. Swire delves into seven powerful qualities that the Safe Danger method can unlock to help people bring out the best in themselves and their teams: joy, vulnerability, curiosity, optimism, connection, trust, and creativity. Full of practical activities and inspiring insights, Safe Danger is for business professionals and creative types--especially those who feel stuck or dissatisfied with their company's work culture or career trajectory.

Whether you're a leader looking to engage your team, a professional seeking to infuse your career with new life, or an individual striving to get more out of your time on earth, Safe Danger offers the tools and insights you've been missing. Discover how to embrace the unexpected, fuel your creativity, and inspire those around you with the transformative power of "Safe Danger."

Author: Ben Swire
Publisher: Balance
Published: 10/14/2025
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.30w x 1.10d
ISBN: 9780306833823

About the Author

Ben Swire is one of today's most innovative thought leaders on company culture and workplace belonging. An award-winning designer, writer, and former Design Lead at the iconic innovation firm, IDEO, Swire co-founded Make Believe Works, a team building company that uses creative activities to accelerate connection, deepen trust, and fuel collaboration. His methods have helped organizations from Fortune 500 companies to public school districts build healthy and productive workplace cultures. He lives in Brooklyn, NY.