5 Things / Deep
I kicked off the year with a session for a fully remote sales team, and it got deep.
Thirty minutes of content. Thirty minutes of Q&A. I was reminded how much people are willing to share when they’re given psychological safety through the option of anonymity. That’s a gift of virtual spaces. People tell the truth.
One question I get all the time came up again last week: “How do you stay inclusive when being inclusive now offends people?”
Here’s my answer: you start with inclusion anyway.
If your inclusive action upsets someone, explain your why. Connect that action back to your organization’s values, or your own. Be clear about what you stand for. You don’t need to convince anyone to change their beliefs. But you can influence behavior.
And if someone’s behavior consistently clashes with your values? Set boundaries. Like: “We don’t talk about this at work.” or “We’re not having this conversation at Thanksgiving.”
Simple. Not easy.
People are carrying these tensions into client calls and Slack threads. They’re exhausting. And they take up real brain space. In my workshops, we talk about this topic so people can get some peace of mind back.
This Week's Good Vibes:
Pickleball makes access the default
The All India Pickleball Association registered students from Mauli School on the DUPR rating platform, bringing Deaf students and students with disabilities into the same competitive structure that I use. The program began last year when the coach began using sign-based coaching and adaptive drills. Five students were then selected for a two-day training program with hearing peers. ♐️ Build communication access into coaching from day one.
Autistic Barbie designed with care
Mattel introduced its first autistic Barbie in the Fashionistas line, developed over 18 months with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. The doll includes noise-reducing headphones, a fidget spinner, and a tablet representing augmentative and alternative communication. I know it’s received some flak, but the response has largely been positive. ♐️Representation can reduce stigma, normalize accommodations, and help children see support needs as ordinary, not “other.”
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s company Artists Equity is giving back-end bonuses to all 1,200 crew members on their Netflix film The Rip. Although profit-sharing for stars and producers has been common in the film industry (but not streamers) for decades, these bonuses will go to all crew, including standby painters and camera operators. This is groundbreaking for Netflix and in the industry, in general. ♐️ Share performance rewards beyond leadership roles.
Volvo rolled out Volvo Centum, a custom typeface developed to make in-car text easier to read at a glance. Volvo says Centum supports 800+ languages and is engineered to reduce “visual noise,” helping drivers scan dashboards and infotainment faster. Safety design is equity design, because hard-to-read interfaces raise risk for people with low vision, older drivers, and anyone navigating cognitive overload. ♐️Prioritize legibility before aesthetics in every interface.
Minecraft breaks the censorship wall
Reporters Without Borders built The Uncensored Library inside the video game Minecraft to bypass censorship. 24 builders from 16 countries spent 250+ hours creating a server where people can access censored journalism, plus press-freedom reports across 180 countries. Note, this was built in 2020, but I just learned of it! ♐️ When media is restricted, marginalized communities lose visibility and safety first. This meets people where access still exists.
Good Vibes to Go:
It’s Girl Scout Cookie time! Here’s the now-annual list of trans kids to order Girl Scount cookies from.