Why Major League Baseball must understand the disability experience to shape its future

Major League Baseball has spent the past three months navigating a lockout that has caused enormous friction between owners, players and fans. To many on the outside, it may have seemed like a lot of bickering between billionaires and millionaires over revenue sharing and collective bargaining. Rather, these discussions were indicative of something much larger, the role of the future of work and the ripple effect it has on all industries. In these negotiations, we see the patterns of changing dynamics within the employer-employee relationship unfold in real time, but more importantly, we can imagine what is needed to develop a solid foundation for shaping a more harmonious for the 21st century.

Over the past few months, it has become apparent that ownership and players have often been at an impasse suffering from a lack of imagination. You could hear the words echoed by management guru Peter Drucker who said that “the greatest danger in turbulent times is not the turbulence; it is to act with the logic of yesterday. If there’s a lesson to be learned from this lockdown, it’s that to move the game forward and envision the future of baseball, they must embrace a new way to engage their work culture in a way that encompasses the need for greater emotional intelligence and understands that expanding the game is about managing future challenges that ensure a better experience for players and fans.

Just like many organizations going through these changing working arrangements, there are a few areas that need to be amplified. One is simply relationship building. In this case, in the future, the League and the Union must find strategies to develop more effective communication. Using empathy as an essential tool for growth can be an essential ingredient in this process. Second, just like many organizations, there is a sea change where a younger generation is coming to the fore and their views on how they engage with their work are different than years past. Being able to meet them where they are and listen to them is essential, it is essential for long-term organizational growth.

As we continue to engage in the future of work, it’s also important to think about the product and how the fan experience in the case of Major League Baseball can be better served by developing a more efficient to have a healthier work culture. One way to do this is for Major League Baseball to take a break and reset to explore how the disability experience can provide a value proposition that can offer a meaningful impact on their workplace culture as well as positive engagement. with their fans.

The lived experience of disability has always emphasized the culture of relationships. From the medical community to navigating the everyday life environment, it is essential to develop skills that enable better interpersonal relationships to expand to increased patience, resilience and adaptation. For the League and the Union, these skills are fundamental elements in restoring a fragile relationship and creating a healthier model for moving forward.

Another key area the disability narrative offers Major League Baseball is a window into the future of the fan experience. As the consumption of how people get their entertainment evolves and technology has become a driving force in finding new business opportunities, it is important to look at the disabled consumer and the value of universal design to be as inclusive as possible for all consumers. It’s no longer just about being ADA compliant in stadiums, it’s about expanding the game through access to the product itself. The disability community offers new insight into the relationship with technology, giving Major League Baseball a new way to think about additional avenues to grow the game in a more inclusive way.

As Major League Baseball strives to move beyond the lockdown, perhaps it is time for the league to carefully consider adopting core disability narrative concepts into its business model by establishing a pathway to transform behaviors and develop new modalities that will benefit everyone. areas of the game of the relationship between the league, the property and its players while creating a better experience for the fans in general.

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