One Small Step Can Lead to Giant Change

What’s your superpower?

I ask because everyone – even if you’re disabled – has one. Not flying through the air. Not x-ray vision. But a skill that seems simple to you yet confounds others. It could be as ‘simple’ as using spreadsheets – making them look good and working out formulas are beyond many of us. 

As a leader, your superpower could be fully engaging your audience when you speak. Or making sense of complex situations and explaining them in a few simple words. Your team may find your ability to see and explain things clearly very helpful, enabling them to carry out their tasks with renewed confidence.

The Ripple Effect of Positive Change

Whoever you are – leader, manager or team member – your superpower is the pebble that creates the ripples of positive change. 

When you find yourself feeling that things are out of kilter and you’re unsure of your next steps, that’s when you need to turn to the Power of You! Using your superpower turns you into a changemaker, even if it’s only in your direct area for now. So, whenever things are feeling beyond your control, remember this.

If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got. Henry Ford 

This quote is so true. To make change, we need to do things differently. Doing things the same way and expecting different results is madness.

Your actions, however small, could trigger the ripple effect throughout the business that creates positive change. It’s your power that can guide and support people, helping them to feel more empowered by the end of the day. 

As a leader, make coaching a part of your superpower to empower and encourage trust in your team.

Part of the empowerment process means coaching, not telling. In other words, when you demonstrate or describe how you carry out certain tasks, invite your team to find a way that suits them. Many organisations are coaching now, which is both very empowering to the individual and helps to shine a light on their strengths and weaknesses. 

What Can You Control?

When realisation hits that a situation feels beyond your control, remember that there are always things that you can control. 

This is where my 3 Fs Framework downloadable guide is incredibly useful. It will help you to both clarify the situation and understand what actions you can take to make a difference. You can read more about this process here, then find out how to download the guides below. 

Think ‘Ability’, not ‘Disability’

I’m currently doing a lot of work on Disability Confidence with many organisations. Surprisingly, it seems that one in three people think that disabled people are less productive than able bodied people. And yet many disabled people have brilliant skills that your able-bodied colleagues may not.

Here’s a reminder of Ford’s quote: If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got. In this case, it’s time to change our preconceived ideas of what being disabled – whether physically or mentally – means. 

Help People Feel Better About Themselves

Most people with disabilities are highly intelligent and able to make valuable contributions to organisations. Like everyone, disabled people have their own superpowers that can help in your organisation’s success. It only takes a few adjustments to help them work to their highest ability. 

Employing, nurturing and empowering fully diverse teams widens your skills pool and helps to improve your organisation’s reputation. This article by the CIPD covers all this and more. 

It’s simple, really. Through coaching, listening, being empathetic and making adjustments for any team member, disabled or not, you’re helping to make your organisation more human. More inclusive and productive. This approach enhances everyone’s wellbeing, creating an organisation that people are proud to say they work.

Then, whenever you sense that things are going awry and beyond your control, there’s always something that someone can do. That’s when knowing people’s individual superpowers really help! 

Download the 3 Fs Framework guide now to help you create positive change, and to make people feel more supported and better about themselves. Ultimately, your superpower is helping both the organisation and you to become more successful!