A short introduction: this is the first time I've written a piece like this & posted here. I have shown it to colleagues and my psychiatrist, who have given it positive feedback, so I thought I would also post here. I welcome any comments and discussion - whether you agree or disagree with what I've written - after all, we are all different based on our symptoms, experiences and beliefs, etc.
I do hope that people find this piece helpful.
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Today, April 2nd, is World Autism Awareness day. Just because someone has an Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) does not mean they cannot contribute. There are people with ASCs who have PhDs, who are CEOs of companies, excellent programmers and lawyers, just to name a few. In order to ensure their success, companies need to create the right conditions for them to perform and succeed in.
Yet, just 16% of autistic adults are in full time employment[1]. This figure is shocking. Businesses have a very long way to go to help to right this significant inequality.
I am writing this with the hope it will provide some helpful information to those who work with people who have an ASC but, also, give some inspiration to others with an ASC. This article is a bit longer than I originally intended, but all of the information is helpful. I urge you to read to the end.
A bit about me…
My CV is impressive. I’ve succeeded (and survived) in Management Consulting, for several years. I’ve successfully managed teams, some pretty difficult client relationships and sold some hefty pieces of work to clients.
All of this whilst having an ASC. It hasn’t been easy, there have been ups and downs along the way. I didn’t think I would be able to achieve half of what I have.
To managers and colleagues: Understand, don’t just acknowledge
I’ve been open and honest about my condition with managers, schools, university, etc. Whilst they have been sympathetic, it doesn’t mean they have always understood what this means. This quite often leads to incorrect and unhelpful “adjustments” (or prejudices), with me being too afraid to speak out, feeling like it will be detrimental to my career.
It’s taken me a long time to realise that success is a two-way streak. My managers must work with me to ensure conditions are correct for success. I must speak up when something isn’t right.
For example, I had been a very high performer on a project, but I became exhausted and very anxious due to constant changes from the client, a new PM (Project Manager) and excessive working hours (I single-handedly created and implemented a tool that saved my client ~€100k+, which meant working, daily, 8am-2am for a six week period). My new PM knew how badly I was suffering – I even broke down in front of her one day. She expected me to keep working. She didn’t ask what adjustments she could give me or ask how she could help me get back to my high performing ways. I crashed. Once I left the project, it took me a long time to recover.
On the other hand though, I’ve had clients and PMs who, when they have taken time to get to know me and understand me are hugely impressed with the results I have generated for them, for example, like the tool I created in the previous example. All this took was an honest and trusting relationship and meeting for a quick coffee to catch up once or twice a week – I’m sure you’ll agree that’s not asking too much.
So, what can you do to help someone with an ASC?
Anyone with an ASC will probably have a different answer depending on their own experiences, but I want to try and outline some general pointers:
- Give them time to think and explain themselves. However ludicrous an idea or belief may sound, a person with an ASC will often have a very good reason for thinking it. Give them time to explain. More often than not, you will be enlightened by their point and might even find significant project risks that no one else had even considered
- Take time to understand and to get to know the person. Build a relationship with them. You’ll become more aware of their strengths, where their skills lie and be able to tell when something isn’t right. They will feel more comfortable around you and want to work harder for you
- Make them feel comfortable and reassured. Someone with an ASC may appear nervous, through lack of eye contact or appearing inattentive, but they are not. Let them build familiarity with you and the environment they are in
- Don’t assume you know best. Yes, you may have been proactive and read some information on ASCs, but this may not be applicable to the person you’re working with or managing – for example, I’m good at pin pointing issues in a client’s process and can see things other colleagues normally struggle with
- Work with them, not for them. We’re not asking our colleagues/managers to take the brunt of making adjustments – it’s a collaboration. Expect the person with an ASC to help themselves too
My message to other with ASCs: If I could do it all again, what would I do differently?
If you’re reading this, thinking “this is me”, here are some things I wish I had done sooner:
- Realised this is a battle I could not fight alone
- Sought help sooner from medical professionals, others who have an ASC and from my company (it’s taken me far too long to do it!)
- Understand that adjustments are not a sign of weakness, but are an enabler for success
- Not being afraid of speaking out – just because I have an ASC, doesn’t mean I’m wrong – it’s quite often the opposite
- Remembering, constantly, that I bring value to my company, to my colleagues and to my clients
[1] National Autistic Society “Our Employment Campaign” https://www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/tmi/employment.aspx accessed 29 March 2019
