How can we create more dyslexic leaders?
““Being dyslexic allows me to reach my goals in so many different ways” ”
One of the major shifts that are important to us here at Shift Your Thinking, is to help people to focus not only on the struggles that may accompany a learning difference but also the beautiful, incredible, unique strengths that a learning difference can bring.
We were thrilled to have Will Wheeler, Founder of The Dyslexic Evolution, join us on a SYT Learn call to share his own personal story growing up with dyslexia, and how he was able to use this as a springboard to launch his own company. The company’s goal? “Help dyslexic people to believe in themselves to achieve greatness in their careers and businesses and help them to use their strengths to excel in whatever they put their minds to.”
Will’s inspirational talk was themed around the idea that there are many positive aspects of dyslexia, and with the right tools and support, those strengths can shine.
Will was very open about his difficult experience growing up with dyslexia, and these same experiences are all too common for many people with learning differences:
Struggling in school
Getting in trouble often
Feeling like he was the only person struggling
Feeling like his teachers hated him
Hanging out with a crowd that was not a positive influence
Feeling like he was going to be a nobody
The message he got was that if he did not do well in school, he would not have any opportunities, or go anywhere in life.
This changed when he realized that he was his own worst enemy. Will was inspired after he could not find a coach that understood or knew how to support him. He wanted to “develop dyslexically”, and realized that this support was not out there, so this could be his niche, to help others with dyslexia.
Will is now an entrepreneur, speaker and author, and advocate for those with dyslexia.
Will’s story resonated with many on the live call, and we had some great takeaways from the discussion:
1. People with dyslexia need to be open about being dyslexic.
When people are real and honest, they can relate to each other. Being open and owning your dyslexia helps others to not have that feeling of being the only one going through it or the only one who is struggling.
2. There are different paths to success.
Work with kids to let them know that you can get what you want, you may just have to take a different pathway to get there than you anticipated - and that there ARE heaps of pathways that you can take.
3. Focus on strengths.
There are so many positives that people with dyslexia have, we need to focus on and develop those too. There are so many incredible traits that people with dyslexia often have.
4. We need to relate to our students.
We need to let our kids know we care, that we are there to support them, and we need to get down to their level and listen to them.
Will’s journey shifted his thinking, and he is an incredible example of the wonderful positives that can accompany a learning difference such as dyslexia. He did not have an easy journey to get here, but he now sees dyslexia as something that can give you the upper hand - because you cannot learn to be dyslexic (and all of the positives that can accompany it!), it is something that you have. Will is a great inspiration to the learning difference community.
““To become a dyslexic leader I had to change the “I can’t” to “I can” and it was amazing to see my career skyrocket””