 What do organizations like Microsoft, Facebook, Virgin, HSBC, and even the UK’s GCHQ have in common? They have all, very recently, begun actively seeking out neurodiverse candidates.
Why, you ask? Because we now have increasingly more evidence that dyslexia is a ‘different’ way of thinking, not a lesser one. If you want proof of this, you can look no further than a recent report by E&Y, titled “The Value of Dyslexia', which found that employees who experience dyslexia excelled in key areas like idea generation, problem solving, leadership, critical reasoning, and ‘three dimensional thinking’. So, what can we take from all of this? Well, we can finally say that dyslexia in the workplace is fundamentally an ‘accessibility’ issue, not an issue of talent. Studies like these suggest that, in addition to a moral duty to be inclusive, there is also a key strategic and financial imperative behind cultivating a neurodiverse workforce. There is a caveat here, however. In order for organizations to benefit from the unique skill sets of employees who also experience dyslexia, they also need to be aware of the challenges they may face, and be ready to make improvements to the work environment. Fortunately, these accommodations benefit the organization as a whole! Below we’ve listed some simple workplace changes that can help ensure employees experiencing dyslexia reach their full potential in their roles. Provide the tools The challenges individuals with dyslexia face when dealing with written language can be a major barrier in their everyday lives. What may surprise you, however, is that we are currently going through a period of exceptional progress towards eroding these barriers. There is already a wide range of dynamic software that assist individuals in overcoming key struggles around reading and writing - and the market for this is set to grow even bigger! Perhaps the most well-known is Grammarly, which is an app which proofreads your writing for grammar issues, as well as provides insightful recommendations around the quality and flow of your written language. The great thing about Grammarly is that it can be used as its own stand-alone word processing app, or can act as a useful plug-in when using software such as Gmail and outlook. This means it can fit neatly into almost any established work environment whether on-site or remote. On the note-taking side of things, meeting recording software, such as Otter.Ai, is also becoming more popular. Rather than face the pressure of both taking notes and contributing to a meeting, note taking software allows neurodiverse employees to focus on engaging with clients and colleagues without fear of missing key information. And finally, text-to-speech software, such as Speechify, can provide a huge quality of life solution for employees with dyslexia, especially when digesting large amounts of information in a short period of time. Where possible, it's highly recommended that employers use digital versions of documents so dyslexic workers can choose to use text-to-speech software, if they so wish. Ultimately, more important than the tech itself, is the responsibility employers have in providing these tools for their staff. As an employer, you should be keeping up to date on new software that could prove beneficial to your workforce, as well as setting aside budget to implement them. Encourage communication In order to fully understand the challenges dyslexic employees face in the workplace, it is paramount that employers actively cultivate an environment of open-communication. There is still a whole host of unwarranted stigma around neurodivergence. Despite all the best intentions from employers, many employees could be holding themselves back in asking for extra assistance or special considerations. Avoiding this once again requires proactivity. Let your employees know that your organization accepts and encourages neurodivergence, and if an employee has shared that they have dyslexia, don’t be afraid to use 1-to-1 meetings to gauge whether they need any extra assistance, as well as discuss any potential solutions. Ensure your entire organization is onboard Building an inclusive workplace is a company wide endeavor. While providing tools and assistance to employees experiencing dyslexia is an excellent first step, feelings of stress and alienation from co-workers can severely dampen any efforts made towards inclusivity. Consequently, we strongly recommend businesses research and invest in company-wide neurodiversity awareness training. By being aware of the challenges their colleagues face, team members will be more capable of effectively working together towards common goals. Be committed Despite all the progress being made in tackling issues surrounding neurodivergence, it is important to keep in mind that nothing changes overnight. With all the tools at an employer's disposal, it’s very easy to fall into the trap of believing in quick fixes. Like everything else, inclusivity and accessibility are ongoing issues that require persistence and dedication - especially during times of significant change. Before actioning anything mentioned above, make sure you have a genuine plan of action, and that you are ready listen to your employees as you work towards solutions together. If you don’t know where to start, we have nested our introduction to neurodiversity within our self-directed course on Diversity and Inclusion. It covers important points regarding neurodiversity and how it plays out in the workplace. We find that departing from a place of compassion and having the willingness to learn is an essential step in making workplaces welcoming for all. Here are the top 10 things employers can do:
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 We are often told, particularly within the western world, that success is a mindset, and within this mindset, comes a specific set of values and patterns of behavior. Winners, we are told, are ruthless. They are strong, competitive, self-centered, and machiavellian. They have their own goals and their own ideals, and will stop at nothing to achieve their needs. Winners, we are told, are like sharks. As for the losers; they're more like their prey.
While there is arguably a nugget of truth buried within this way of thinking, there is also a whole lot wrong with this attitude. While attributes like self-assurance, tenacity, and resilience are key to finding success in today's ultra-competitive environment, this doesn't mean you need to be a shark, and it certainly doesn't mean you should be treating others as prey. To the contrary, sensitivity, emotional intelligence, and vulnerability are not weaknesses. In actuality, they are key skills that allow us all to navigate our increasingly complex social environment. As such, If you want to succeed in anything, especially business, you should be embracing emotional intelligence, and taking pride in your ability to tune into others needs. Don't believe me? Well, here are four ways in which emotional intelligence can help you succeed in the business world. 1. Self-Awareness: As an emotionally intelligent person, you are more aware of yourself, and what makes you tick. You’re more aware of your strengths, your weaknesses and your goals. More important than this, however, you’re more aware of why you behave the way you do. While this may not seem obvious in a world that seems to celebrate big and often ‘brash’ personalities, a heightened sense of self-reflection is indeed paramount to success. Think of this skill a bit like a coach for a major sports team. A team could have all the star players they want, but if they keep getting injured and underperforming without any feedback as to ‘why’ , said sports team will be doomed to run head first into the same old mistakes. Likewise, in business, you need to be able to diagnose your own shortcomings, and identify areas in which you need to improve. Naturally, this isn't about ‘beating yourself up’. Instead, this is about understanding the true value of ‘humility’, and being ready to learn and develop at every opportunity. 2. Social Skills: In addition to self-awareness, EQ also gives you a vital boost in understanding those around you. Again, in business, this is hugely important. Regardless of sector, no individual ever truly operates alone. As a businessperson, you’re constantly interacting with other people, be this your colleagues, your employees, or your clients. Suffice to say, within this environment, social skills and effective communication are essential. In order to obtain these skills, however, you need to be sensitive. You need to be capable of understanding other people’s motivations, their anxieties, their goals, and ultimately, their emotions. This is especially the case if you want to build long lasting and effective relationships. 3. Empathic creativity: Empathy isn't just a social skill, but a creative one as well. In business, what defines a great idea ultimately comes down to how it will be received by your target audience. Whether you work in marketing, product design or HR, your ‘performance’ hinges on your ability to cultivate an actionable understanding of your customers' needs. Within this paradigm, great ideas are ones that reach their audiences in an authentic, impactful, and fundamentally considerate way. This is to say they are informed by a deep understanding of what their target audience truly wants. Achieving this is no easy task. However, by being emotionally intelligent, and by possessing a genuine respect for your target audience, you are a massive step closer to fulfilling people's needs on a much deeper level. 4. Emotional intelligent leadership: Last but not least, emotional intelligence is crucial to great leadership. At an increasingly rapid rate, we are seeing the old guard of so-called ‘alpha males’ and ‘strong men' fall out of favor for more sympathetic and considerate leadership styles. Why? Because no one wants to work under a shark, and if they can help it, they'll go somewhere where they feel more valued, and where they know their voice will be heard. On the inverse of this, emotionally intelligent leaders are now being celebrated and sought after, especially as businesses look to diversify both their workplace and their audience. Ultimately, emotionally intelligent leaders are now breaking ground because they combine all of the skills we’ve talked about so far. They’re self-aware, and are ready to accept feedback. They’re pro-social, and instinctively know how to motivate their staff. Finally, they’re empathic creatives, and can use their heightened sensitivity to solve problems and generate new ideas. Try getting a shark to do that! A final note on emotional intelligence So those were our four key areas in which EQ (emotional intelligence) can help you excel in the workplace. As a final note on this topic, however, it’s also important to highlight that emotional intelligence is as much a skill, as it is an attribute. Like all things, some people will find being sensitive to the needs of others easy, while many will struggle, despite all their best intentions. If you are facing these challenges, do not give up! No one expects you to excel at this from the offset, especially in a world where many of us still experience stigma around emotional availability and empathy. EQ is a skill that develops over time. As long as you appreciate its value, and work towards improving yourself in this area, you will see progress and results. If you’re interested in learning more about this, we recommend taking a look at the book The Hidden Agenda, where I delve deeper into the power of emotional intelligence, and how it can be applied to the art of pitching, networking, creativity and more. |
AuthorKevin Allen Speaker. Archives
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