I Matter
Yesterday we had the opportunity to spend our day with a Minnesota-based non-profit that serves individuals with disabilities. Facilitating one of our Bootcamp’s with their team, we had the chance to ask questions, then sit back and listen to their conversations. The takeaways from the day were amazing and inspiring. Here are three of them that will immediately impact your organizations and personal relationships if you put them into action today…
- We all want to feel like we matter. Listening to this group talk about the community they serve, individuals with disabilities, we asked them to name one of this group’s main aspirations. Simply put, what do they want? The answer was simple and universal. They want to feel valued – the same as everyone who is reading this. We all want to feel like contributors. We all want to feel seen. We all want to feel like part of something. This desire, to feel like we matter and make a difference, is powerful. With that in mind, it’s up to each of us as leaders, parents, and friends to remind the people in our circle how much they matter.
- We all want to feel proud. Again, listening to this team discuss the needs and wants of the disabilities community they serve, their clients want to be able to say, “I did this.” This team spends a ton of time and energy creating opportunities for their clients to work and contribute and thrive. Hearing that was powerful as well. Isn’t that what we all want as well? We want to be able to say, “I did this.” We want to create those opportunities for our teams, our families, and ourselves. Looking at this, it’s up to each of us to open those doors to the people around us and then to recognize a job well-done when we see it.
- We all want to feel heard. Yesterday’s Bootcamp was attended by individuals from every level in the organization, from the leadership team to staff who work daily with their clients, interacting one-on-one with individuals that have disabilities. There were twelve people at the table yesterday, each with an equal opportunity to lend their perspective to the conversations we had. The playing field was very level, as they discussed who the organization is, what they value, their strengths and weaknesses, and how to best message what makes them unique. At the end of our session, one of the staff members who works side-by-side with their clients shared that she really felt heard during our time together, and that being included in the conversations we had made her feel valued. Knowing this, it’s up to each of us to make sure everyone on our teams, in our families, and throughout our circles feels heard, included, and truly listened to.
Call-to-Action
The reality is simple… These aren’t just the desires of people with disabilities and the people who serve them. These are the desires of human beings that we all share. What we’ve shared above are the takeaways from a day that left us motivated and inspired. None of them will cost you anything, other than the investment of some time and energy. So, what are you waiting for? Pick one of these things, and share it with someone today. Then, do it again tomorrow…
