How Neurodiversity is Making a Positive and Innovative Impact
Ken Carlson
Experienced Executive Coach and Leadership Trainer with a knack for working with Geeks; Specializing in Engineering, Science, Math, and Medical.
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. Last week, 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.
In this week's newsletter we begin a series that addresses the most common positive traits of neurodivergent leaders.
___________________________________________________________
How Neurodiversity is Making a Positive and Innovative Impact
At PricklyPear, we believe that a synonym of neurodivergent is extraordinary. That’s why our our tagline is “A Leadership Journey for Extraordinary Talent.”
As Executive Coaches, we specialize in helping leaders see themselves, help them choose what they want to shift, and then walk alongside them as they succeed and fail and succeed again on their growth journey.
There is a lot of talk about the challenges that neurodivergent leaders face. Of course, every human is unique so the common challenges aren’t applicable for everyone. The same is true for what research has shown are the most positive traits of neurodivergent leaders.
We want to put a special focus on the positive traits that we’ve discovered over the years as we’ve worked with leaders from all over the world. Imagine a world where hiring and promoting neurodivergent leaders just made sense because of the tremendous benefits that they bring to the table.
Everyone brings genius but we’ve found that Neurodivergent Leaders tend to bring the following traits in a greater supply:
1.???? Harnessing Creativity
Creativity is the lifeblood of innovation, and neurodivergent leaders frequently excel in this domain. Their ability to think outside the box and approach challenges from unconventional angles can breathe new life into stagnant processes and open doors to uncharted territories.
2.???? Crystal-Clear Thought Processes
Neurodivergent leaders are renowned for their clarity of thought. They often possess the remarkable capacity to quickly distill complex information, enabling them to communicate ideas with precision and simplicity.
3.???? Pattern Recognition Prowess
One of the standout strengths of neurodivergent individuals is their innate ability to detect patterns. Whether it's identifying market trends, optimizing operations, or streamlining processes, neurodivergent leaders can quickly recognize patterns that others might overlook.
4.???? Hyper-Focused Problem Solving
The hyper-focus exhibited by many neurodivergent individuals enables them to dedicate intense attention to solving complex problems. This level of commitment and tenacity can be a game-changer when tackling intricate challenges that demand unwavering dedication and a deep dive into the details. Neurodivergent leaders can excel in maintaining focus and seeing tasks through to completion.
5.???? Out-of-the-Box Solutions
In a rapidly changing economic environment, organizations often face novel and unexpected challenges. Neurodivergent leaders thrive in these situations, leveraging their unique perspectives to devise out-of-the-box solutions. Their unconventional thinking can lead to breakthrough innovations.
Do you see yourself here? Does your organization honor the special contributions you bring to the table?
In the coming weeks, we will be sharing personal stories of leaders who exhibit these traits and how they navigated real-life organizations. Sometimes it works out well and honestly sometimes organizations don’t serve their own people in the best ways. In any case, we are excited to share with you about Extraordinary Leaders on their Leadership Journeys. ?Please make sure you keep checking your in-box and our LinkedIn pages.
____________________________________________________________
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.
_______________________________________________________________
Staying In Touch
What leadership challenges are you facing??I’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.