Everyday Run State: Pro Edition

Let’s start with a little real life example -

In my house, we store our dishwasher pods under the sink in the kitchen, so they are fairly low to the ground when trying to reach in and grab a new pod.
My husband put the new pack of dishwasher pods on top of the old, empty one.
I, of course, tried to throw out the old, empty container, but was stopped by my husband saying that it was intentional.

Why? “It’s higher up, easier to reach.”

It’s a tiny change that makes the task easier, and it got me thinking about how often we overlook accessibility in the workplace.

We tend to think of accessibility as a compliance requirement, tied to a formal set of accommodations for people with specific needs. But at its core, accessibility is about lowering the barriers to doing great work. It’s about making it easier for people to reach their potential - whatever that potential looks like for them.

And here’s the thing: you may not know what your employees or coworkers are dealing with. Physical limitations aren’t always visible. ADHD, anxiety, chronic fatigue, or even a temporary personal crisis can impact how someone works. Accessibility removes friction for everyone, whether you know about their needs or not.

In business terms, accessibility supports:

• Consistency – When processes are easier to follow, errors and delays drop.

• Speed – Removing friction speeds up handoffs and decision-making.

• Retention – People stay where they feel supported and set up for success.

Some ways to adopt a more accessible mindset in your organization:

1. Project management tools
   Keep task lists short and clear.
   Accessibility layer: Use color coding, labels, and priority markers for quick scanning (helpful for ADHD, low vision, or when people are juggling multiple projects).

2. Internal training
   Offer resources in multiple formats - video, written guide, and quick-reference cheat sheet.
   Accessibility layer: This supports different learning styles and helps people retain information without relying on memory alone.

3. Meeting follow-ups
   Send a short summary with action items immediately after. I use Fathom as my notetaker tool, and it does this beautifully.
   Accessibility layer: Helps those with auditory processing challenges, ADHD, or simply competing priorities to stay aligned without relying on note-taking during the call.

4. Feedback & Idea Sharing
   Instead of relying only on real-time discussions in meetings, create multiple ways for people to contribute - anonymous forms, follow-up emails, or shared documents.
   Accessibility layer: Supports those who process information more slowly, feel anxious speaking up, or work in different time zones. This ensures valuable ideas aren’t lost just because someone couldn’t jump in at the moment. I use Loom to send short videos to my clients when responding to their emails. They can watch it multiple times, on their own time, reference the AI generated transcript and key notes, and make comments at points where they need more information.

AI can help here - just put in what you’re trying to do, and ask AI to make the task/project more accessible.

Building accessibility into your operations isn’t just the “right” thing to do, it’s a strategic advantage. It ensures your entire team can contribute at their highest level, which directly impacts efficiency, quality, and business outcomes.

What’s one process in your business you could make more accessible this week?

Monica