Lessons from the Paralympics and Dylan Alcott

Welcome to Love Mondays More, the weekly LinkedIn newsletter that delves deeper into the ideas and concepts driving my Love Mondays email newsletter series.

Why ‘Love Mondays’? Mondays are often the low part of the week, earning the title of “worst day of the week” by the Guinness World Records. So I aim to provide a 4-minute caffeine hit of content to fire up the other 10,076 minutes of your week and stave off the Monday malaise. Don’t just live Mondays, Love Mondays!

Have you been as glued to the Paralympics as I have? Watching these athletes redefine what’s possible is nothing short of electrifying. Every event, every race, every game is a powerful reminder that limits are meant to be pushed, and barriers are there to be broken.

Over the years, I’ve had the great privilege of working with and learning from a number of incredible Paralympic athletes, and as I sit glued to the television, I find myself reflecting on what they’ve taught me.

One person who truly stands out is Dylan Alcott AO. A Paralympic gold medalist, former world No. 1 tennis player, and passionate disability advocate, Dylan is a powerhouse of change.?

I had the privilege of working with him?at the Coca-Cola ‘Level the Playing Field’ Global DEI Summit alongside the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, where he shared not only his remarkable triumphs but delivered a compelling call to action for dismantling the barriers people living with disabilities face.

What struck me was Dylan's presentation was his reflection that his biggest challenge isn’t his disability—it’s the low expectations others hold about what people with disabilities can achieve. This isn’t just a personal challenge; it’s a societal issue that prevents us from tapping into a world of diverse talents and perspectives. But if there’s any event that’s shattering those low expectations and proving the world wrong, it’s the Paralympics.

"Winning Grand Slams and gold medals isn't my purpose. My purpose is changing perceptions, so people with disabilities, people like me, can get out there and live the lives that they deserve to live." - Dylan Alcott AO

Key Actions for Inclusive Leadership

With approximately 1 in 6 people globally living with a disability, how many incredible talents are we overlooking because of these low expectations? It’s time to shift the focus from limitations to possibilities. Here’s how we can start:

Challenge your unconscious bias

As leaders, we need to take a hard look at our unconscious biases—aka the subtle ways we might be underestimating or overlooking people with disabilities. True leadership is about acknowledging where we need to grow and committing to making intentional, positive change.

To that end, in navigating writing about this topic today, I’m vigilant about the fact I might have unconsciously used language incorrectly or framed the discussion in a way that doesn’t fully support the conscious conversation and action I’m looking to instigate. I think a lot about imperfect allyship (both in trying to be a better ally myself and in recruiting more allies to support communities I identify with) but imperfection doesn’t equate to complacency.

We have to make it safe to make well-intentioned mistakes and, equally, create accountability so that we don’t repeat them. To that end, if you have any feedback for me on how I could be more thoughtful about this moving forward, please DM me.?

Listen to lived experience

Dylan’s message was clear: "Don’t talk about us; talk to us." In other words, if you’re going to be talking about us, we better have a seat at that table. I was thinking about this from a different frame last week, facilitating a 2-day kick-off of for Virgin Unite’s year-long Innovation Cluster global pilot, where the presence and contribution of young people in the room (in the context of a dialogue on ‘future skills’) fundamentally challenged and changed the conversation for the better.?

Genuine engagement with people’s lived experiences is crucial to co-creating solutions that work for everyone. Key takeaway: let's be thoughtful about how we curate our contributors.

Lift expectations and provide opportunities

It’s not enough to simply include; we must actively create opportunities for people with disabilities to thrive. By lifting our expectations, we not only improve the lives of those living with disabilities but also enrich our workplaces. A diverse and inclusive environment is one where innovation and creativity flourish because everyone is empowered to be the best version of themselves.

A great example of this in action is my remarkable friend Genevieve Clay Smith who started Bus Stop Films 10+ years ago to change the game on inclusion for people with disabilities in the screen industry. Now Chaired by my incredible mentor, Peter Tonagh, Bus Stop is not just making their own films with, for and about people from diverse backgrounds and abilities, they’re also changing industry policy and pushing for inclusive measures to be taken by some of the biggest players in global film and TV—it’s incredible stuff!

Recognise the power of language

Words have weight, so let’s use them thoughtfully and respectfully. Dylan reminded us that terms like "disabled" and "disability" are perfectly okay to use. It’s all about being respectful and clear, not shying away from the truth. Let’s embrace these terms and use them with confidence, so we can have more open, honest conversations.

Dylan’s words are a call to action for all of us. As leaders, we have the responsibility—and the power—to make better decisions that benefit everyone, including those living with disabilities. It’s about time we embraced that responsibility and started building workplaces and cultures that reflect the inclusive spirit of the Paralympics.

So, as you dive into your week, I challenge you to bring these lessons to life. What steps will you take to create a more inclusive environment, elevate expectations, and unlock the full potential of those around you? Let’s make it happen.