This episode came from one of those half-asleep thoughts that wouldn’t leave me alone — “damaged goods.”

I unpack this idea that sometimes, as facilitators or change agents, we hold ourselves back because we assume the people we’re working with aren’t ready. We design for the lowest common denominator, in the name of being “inclusive.” But as Alan Weiss once told me, “Stop assuming people are damaged goods.”

I explore what happens when we design for the top third of the room — the ones ready to stretch — and how that energy naturally pulls others forward. What if being truly inclusive means giving everyone the opportunity to be stretched, not cushioning them with mediocrity?

It takes courage to try something new, to go against the grain, to risk being different. But when we always “meet people where they’re at,” we might actually be limiting their potential — and ours.

Key takeaways:

• Stop assuming people aren’t ready for change — let them surprise you.
• True inclusivity is about opportunity, not homogeny.
• Design for growth, not safety.
• Stretching people is a form of respect.

Quote:

“When you assume people aren’t ready, you’re calling them damaged goods — before you’ve even given them a chance to show up.”

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