All Brains Belong

We've rebranded as PricklyPear! In early 2023, we began sharing weekly content (see below) with a focus on neurodivergent leaders and we truly hope it has made a difference for you. Recently, we introduced you to a new company that I (Ken) and Petra Russell, PCC, CPC, ELI-MP have launched to specifically serve neurodivergent leaders.

As Executive Coaches and Leadership Trainers we've had the opportunity to work with hundreds of neurodivergent leaders and coach them through many leadership and workplace challenges. Each week we will continue to share resources and insights for neurodivergent leaders and the rest of us.

This week we discuss a thought that has been stuck in my head.

______________________________________________________________

All Brains Belong

Do you ever get that one song stuck in your head and just can’t get it out? It follows you around all day and you find yourself humming it in the odd crevices of your day—between clients, while making toast, or even as you are trying to go to sleep. Of course you have!

For me, it’s usually some song where I know only half of the words so I can’t even sing it properly.

In the last week, it hasn’t been a song—it has been this expression that I heard my co-founder at PricklyPear say during our last LinkedIn session. She said “all brains belong” and although I had heard her say it before, this time it really hit me. In quiet moments and in those same crevices of my day—I have been contemplating what it really means.

Obviously we are talking about neurodiversity—about how all of us have unique brains—unique ways of processing, thinking, communicating, even being.

But what does it mean when we say “All Brains Belong?” I’m sure there are more than five things—but here are the five things I think it means:

• We need to intentionally start with curiosity when we see something different. The human brain (for all of us) is wired to judge people and situations—and to do it fast. So what happens is that we judge things as abnormal or different very quickly. If we really believe all brains belong, we can tell our judgement voice to take a quick pause and see if we can look at all the flavors of people (brains) in front of us.
• Find the extraordinary. We can all do this every day with all the people we interact with. Try it at the grocery store next time. Just look. Find what is extraordinary about the mom calming down her 2-year old; see how that teenager is surviving the drama of a break-up by pulling the hoodie closed; notice the cashier’s exhausted smile but still serving.
• Choose to keep learning. Every day we are finding new learnings about neurodivergent traits—not that I’ve learned everything already. We can look at ADHD with fresh eyes when we understand that distraction and focus are both common traits for people with ADHD—and how that shows up for the people in your life is unique to them. Learn from reading—but also learn from asking questions.
• Belong is probably the most powerful word of these three words. I would submit it is one of the most powerful words in the English language. All of us have within us this desire to belong. To be a part of something—to feel seen and heard—understood even. When we say “all brains belong,” we mean that whether you are neurotypical or neurodivergent, we assume the best in you. At work, you are part of the team and your communication style and your working style are considered when we create standards for all of us.
• Finally, all brains belong requires all of us to tell ourselves the truth about ourselves too. More often than not, I am the one that stops myself from being a part of the team. I think I am “less-than” or that I can’t contribute or I fear rejection so I don’t enter into the conversation. We need to look around and make sure others are included—but we also need to sometimes step forward and believe that WE should be included too.

I heard once that songs get stuck in our heads because our brain needs to “complete” the song—bring it to an end. They say if you just put the song on and listen to it until it ends, it will get unstuck.

I’m not sure if “all brains belong” will ever get unstuck from my head because there is much to do in order to get to the end of this song. :)

______________________________________________________________

Past Articles: Neurodiverse Leadership Resource Library

Want more resources on neurodiversity leadership? We are finding and creating resources for you. Watch this section expand every week.

April 25: No One Told Me I Couldn’t Do That!!! Expectations vs Agreements & Neurodivergent Leaders

April 19: I Can’t Deal with THIS Person

April 12 : Being Smarter is NOT the Answer

April 5: All Executive Coaching Eventually Becomes "Life Coaching"

Mar 28: The Best Leadership is Service

Mar 22: Neurodiversity Week

Mar 15: Without Empathy We're Without Leadership

Mar 8: You Aren't Who You Think (Or Feel) You Are

Mar 1: Thriving Uniquely vs Suffering in Silence: The Benefits of Confidential Self-Identification for Neurodivergent Leaders

Feb 23: Who Needs Productivity Anyway? Did You See That Squirrel?

Feb 12: Emerging from Shame: Illuminating the Path to Neurodivergent Leadership Brilliance

Feb 1: Always Do Your Best Doesn’t Mean Always Do THE Best

Jan 25: There is Nothing Wrong but Something Is Missing

Jan: 19 What’s a Vision Anyway? Why Can’t They Just Do Their Jobs?

Jan 12: A Day in the Life of a Neurodivergent Leader: Navigating Autistic Demand Avoidance at Work

Jan 5: Redefining Autism: The Power of Self-Identification

Dec 21: Why Am I So Anxious

Dec 14: Cultivating Brilliance in Neurodivergent Leaders

Dec 7: Conversations Matter

Dec 1: The Trouble With Geniuses

Nov 17: Science Lesson

Nov 10: Living from Logic in an Emotional World

Nov 3: Communicating with Precision and Simplicity

Oct 27: Creativity and Innovation

Oct 20: How Neurodiversity is Making a Positive and Innovative Impact

Oct 12: It’s Lonely at the Top—Especially for Neurodivergent Leaders

Oct 6: Simply Different?

Sept 29: ADHD: The Kryptonite of It and Its Superpowers

Sept 21: Nerds (and Geeks) Are Leaders Too!

Sept 14 : Blind Spots: You Can't See Yours

Sept 7: People are More Difficult Than Algorithms

Aug 31: ADHD Kids Become ADHD Adults—but Sometimes the Tools Stop Working

Aug 25: Are you Dumb Enough to Manage Up?

Aug 18: Understanding the Avoidant Employee

Aug 10: Your Leadership is Not Served by You Thinking You are Less Than

Aug 4: Leaders Don't Want to Be Victims

July 20: Are You Overcompensating?

July 13: Why We Need the Outdoors

July 6: It's Not a Bug, It's a Feature

June 29: EMOTIONAL BIDS: What Do We Do When Someone Reaches Out to Us Emotionally?

June 15: The Boxes We Put Ourselves In

June 8: Please Just Tell Me the Answer!

May 25: Dyslexia and Leadership

May 18: Autism and Leadership: Advantages and Challenges

May 11: ADHD and Leadership

May 4: Hi Elon, I'd Like to Be Your Executive Coach

Apr 27: Surprise! Your Motivators are NOT Their Motivators

Apr 14: Managing Up Success Story

Apr 6: The Power of Routine

Mar 30: The Nerd Ceiling and Digital Body Language

Mar 22: Neurodiversity Makes For Better Leaders (Sometimes)

Mar 16: He Only Cares About Himself

Mar 9: Neurodiverse Leaders and the Power of One on One Conversation

Mar 2: What if My Neurodiverse Boss Sucks with People?

Feb 23: Why Am I So Anxious?

Feb 16: The Trouble With Neurodiverse Leadership (Forbes Article)

Feb 9: Your Straight Talk is NOT Authentic Leadership

_______________________________________________________________

Staying In Touch

What leadership challenges are you facing??We’d love to hear from you - feel free to set up a time to chat here: Let's talk!

Make sure you never miss an issue! Click the "subscribe" button in the upper right-hand corner of the page. For more articles and insights, connect with me here.