Bridging the Corporate Neurodivide
Propel Inclusivity. Unlock Innovative Talent. Drive The Bottom Line.
What is the Neurodivide?
The Neurodivide is the outdated idea that there is one way to be “professional.” If someone think, communicate, act, or work in a different way from that norm, he is considered unprofessional. Leaders who perpetuate this are on the wrong side of the neurodivide. There is a gap between “traditional” and “different” brains – and often, those brains may be autistic, ADHD, Highly Sensitive – or any other way that society considers to be neurodivergent.
Why is the Neurodivide bad?
The Neurodivide prevents thousands of people each year from gaining employment or succeeding in fulfilling careers. Within the workplace, many neurodivergent people are seen as having behavior or performance issues that can easily be remedied with a shift in communication or some accommodation. Instead, HR is clogged with requests to deal with problem managers and employees. Managers are pulling their hair out because their employees are not doing what they ask or are not doing the job they are required to do. Employees who are not getting their needs met end up demonstrating toxic behaviors.
All of these things can be reduced with a focus on neuroinclusion.
Who Is Jessica Michaels?
Jessica Michaels spent the first two decades of her career hearing: “You’re meeting all your goals, but you’re still failing. You can’t get along with people.” Her performance was fantastic, but she rubbed people the wrong way – and she didn’t know how to fix it. Still, she leaned on her strengths and powered her way from recruiting and sales to leadership. When she wasn’t training, managing, or selling, she toured the Midwest as a standup comic. She became a recognized facilitator and speaker. However, the pattern repeated: Be a great individual contributor, get promoted to manager, and have things blow up spectacularly. Finally, she received a diagnosis that explained those struggles – Autism Spectrum Disorder 1 and ADHD.
UPCOMING BOOK!
A Practical Guide To Navigating Neurodiversity for Employee Learning And Engagement.
