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How to explain how you think to your employer

ByteBandit

Hello,

I need some pointers to articles for my boss that help to explain why it is that I have little difficulty with technical tasks, but cannot get my head around business concepts and processes. 

I'm 40, HFA, have been in my current job for 5 years, survived three rounds of layoffs and am employed as a senior software developer in a small team.

I am happy in the job, it is extremely accomodating of me personally and my family needs but I recently said that I was unhappy with the work because of the lack of engagement. Had a meeting, another one next week.

The lack of engagement is because a lot of the work is fairly menial (comparatively speaking) and/or I lack the comprehension required to do the work properly and whilst I can do the bulk of the work through brute force, it invariably goes to somebody else to be fixed, which I find really quite soul destroying and competence questioning.

The areas where I excel are the ones that are more free of business specifics and tend to be more technical.

My boss does not understand how such a seemingly contradictory state of affairs can exist. I don't think this is disbelief, just doesn't understand.

I have spent hours trying to find a down to Earth article, that is reputable and recent to explain how I think differently, the visual nature of my thoughts, the somewhat haphhazard memory which is simultaniously the font of my creativity, etc.

I describe myself as a software developer, but honestly, it feels more like being a digital artiste. I work 9-5, but I think 24x7, ideas just pop into my head, 'visions' will appear like some shadowy image somewhere between 'me' and the inside of my eyes. Yet it took 4 1/2 years to learn which of the two top draws has socks and which has pants.

How do you explain this to a lay person? I keep coming across Temple Grandin articles, but they are old and lengthy.

Any help appreciated.

Parents

  • Oh and I've been lookuing at the employer factsheets. These really aren't helpful.

    The first one - what is autism - starts with the triad of impairments - in simple terms, but is that really helpful? Then goes on to explain Pervasive Disorder - hold on the poor emplyer hasn't grasped autism yet!

    Then there's the one on recruiting someone with autism - that we can offer excellent skills, but just are bugged by social skills - the triad again - communication, social interaction and routine. Its a diagnostic tool not a lifestyle!

    ByteBandit has explained the problem of contradictory attributes, which I've also referred to simmilarly above. Many people on the spectrum in work have many more problems than just fitting in, though fitting in is a big factor.

    NAS needs to be wary of mis-selling. Bullets cover:

    high level of concentration - well maybe in special subject areas. I personally suffer from fading out and blanking, one of the reasons I got into difficulties, and this is something others report. My concentration is brilliant in the right contexts. But an employer reads this and anticipates he /she can put a person on the spectrum in any task requuiring concentration and get excellent results every time. Is that really true? If it isn't NAS, why are you pedalling this rubbish?

    Reliability, conscientiousness and persistance. Yes in context. No not all the time.

    Accuracy, close attention to detail and the ability to identify errors. Not talents all employers would jump at. I was good at these, and properly channelled I was useful. But badly directed I was obsessive, pedantic and too close to the detail to see perspectives, and I quickly spotted errors best covered up.

    Technical ability such as IT. Where oh where does this cookie come from? Yes people on the spectrum may be good with some aspect of computers, is this a useful aspect always? - no. Sometimes its not broad enough to get a degree in computing. Where does this idea come from NAS? Because NAS keeps popping up with this myth. It is not true.

    Detailed factual knowledge and an excellent memory.  Yes from personal experience and seeing others do it this is likely. But what is its application? Many employers think this is provided by computers. I'm not really sure whether employers see the point of it.

    NAS, you have to research what employers in different work contexts are looking for. This profile isn't a helpful one.

    I'll add another post on these.

Reply

  • Oh and I've been lookuing at the employer factsheets. These really aren't helpful.

    The first one - what is autism - starts with the triad of impairments - in simple terms, but is that really helpful? Then goes on to explain Pervasive Disorder - hold on the poor emplyer hasn't grasped autism yet!

    Then there's the one on recruiting someone with autism - that we can offer excellent skills, but just are bugged by social skills - the triad again - communication, social interaction and routine. Its a diagnostic tool not a lifestyle!

    ByteBandit has explained the problem of contradictory attributes, which I've also referred to simmilarly above. Many people on the spectrum in work have many more problems than just fitting in, though fitting in is a big factor.

    NAS needs to be wary of mis-selling. Bullets cover:

    high level of concentration - well maybe in special subject areas. I personally suffer from fading out and blanking, one of the reasons I got into difficulties, and this is something others report. My concentration is brilliant in the right contexts. But an employer reads this and anticipates he /she can put a person on the spectrum in any task requuiring concentration and get excellent results every time. Is that really true? If it isn't NAS, why are you pedalling this rubbish?

    Reliability, conscientiousness and persistance. Yes in context. No not all the time.

    Accuracy, close attention to detail and the ability to identify errors. Not talents all employers would jump at. I was good at these, and properly channelled I was useful. But badly directed I was obsessive, pedantic and too close to the detail to see perspectives, and I quickly spotted errors best covered up.

    Technical ability such as IT. Where oh where does this cookie come from? Yes people on the spectrum may be good with some aspect of computers, is this a useful aspect always? - no. Sometimes its not broad enough to get a degree in computing. Where does this idea come from NAS? Because NAS keeps popping up with this myth. It is not true.

    Detailed factual knowledge and an excellent memory.  Yes from personal experience and seeing others do it this is likely. But what is its application? Many employers think this is provided by computers. I'm not really sure whether employers see the point of it.

    NAS, you have to research what employers in different work contexts are looking for. This profile isn't a helpful one.

    I'll add another post on these.

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