Why High Masking Autism is an Advantage in Leadership

There’s growing awareness of autism's complexity, especially as more autistic adults step into corporate and leadership roles. Among the different profiles, those with "high-masking" autism navigate a unique path in professional spaces, adapting constantly to align with societal norms. While high-masking autistic leaders face challenges, they also bring invaluable strengths and a distinctive perspective that can enrich workplaces and redefine traditional leadership.

What Exactly is High Masking?

High masking is a term that describes autistic individuals who have learned to “mask” or hide their autistic traits to better blend into neurotypical settings. High masking often involves skillful observation, intense social mimicry, and a deep internalization of social rules. High maskers put in significant work to appear neurotypical, often going unnoticed as autistic by colleagues and even close friends.

This “camouflaging” requires constant monitoring and recalibration, adjusting to expected behaviors and responses that might not feel natural but are necessary to function in workplaces built around neurotypical norms. High-masking individuals can be incredibly adept at decoding social cues, managing their own responses, and reading the room in ways that make them look calm and controlled, even when they’re navigating a whirlwind internally.

The Challenges of High Masking in Leadership

High-masking autism may enable autistic leaders to integrate seamlessly into their roles, but it comes at a personal cost. Masking requires energy, resilience, and sacrifice, and it poses a few key challenges in leadership:

1. Emotional and Physical Exhaustion: The effort it takes to maintain a neurotypical facade can lead to burnout and, in some cases, a complete depletion of mental energy. This exhaustion is intensified in leadership, where demands are higher, and there’s less room to unwind or let down one’s guard.
2. Struggles with Authenticity: High-masking autistic leaders often feel they’re hiding aspects of their true selves. This can foster a sense of inauthenticity or imposter syndrome, where they may question if they truly “deserve” their role or worry that being themselves would change how they’re perceived.
3. Lack of Necessary Accommodations: High maskers may not receive the accommodations they need because they seem to blend in well. Small adjustments, like quiet spaces or flexible hours, could be immensely helpful, but often go unrequested or overlooked because high maskers have “learned” to manage without them.
4. Misinterpretation of Intentions: Leaders with high-masking autism might express themselves differently, leading to misunderstandings. For instance, they may come across as reserved or distant rather than fully engaged, which can be misinterpreted by colleagues or teams as a lack of interest or emotional investment.

The Hidden Advantages of High Masking in Leadership

Despite these challenges, high-masking autistic leaders bring a set of unique skills that can elevate teams and contribute to positive workplace culture. Here’s why their contributions are invaluable:

1. Exceptional Observational Skills: High-masking leaders are finely attuned to their environment and capable of picking up on subtleties others might miss. They read the unspoken dynamics within a room, recognize shifts in team morale, and anticipate potential issues—all essential skills in leadership.
2. A Deep Empathy for Different Perspectives: High-masking autistic leaders understand the experience of feeling “different.” This fosters a natural empathy and patience with neurodiverse team members or others who don’t fit the typical mold. This empathy can be transformative in creating an inclusive and psychologically safe workplace.
3. Adaptability and Resilience: The constant adjustments and adaptations required by high masking make these leaders incredibly flexible and resourceful. They’re accustomed to thinking quickly and solving problems on the go, which is a vital skill in dynamic business environments where priorities and demands can shift in an instant.
4. Detail-Oriented and Strategic: High-masking autistic leaders are often extremely detail-oriented and strategic. They can see and plan for complexities that others might overlook, helping to build resilient systems and processes that withstand challenges and empower teams to perform at their best.
5. Authenticity Through Self-Awareness: Odd as it may sound, many high-masking leaders bring a special form of authenticity that stems from self-awareness. They know who they are, what challenges them, and what energizes them. This clarity can provide a grounded approach to leadership that resonates with teams.
6. Creative Problem-Solving: Since high masking involves finding ways to adapt to neurotypical standards, high-masking leaders often bring unique, out-of-the-box solutions. Their creativity can be an advantage in tackling complex, unconventional challenges where typical approaches fall short.

How Organizations Can Support High-Masking Leaders

To harness the full potential of high-masking autistic leaders, organizations need to understand their unique needs and strengths and provide support that enables them to thrive. Here are some ways companies can do this:

• Encouraging a Culture of Authenticity: Creating a work culture where people can bring their full selves to work reduces the need for high-masking leaders to hide. When they feel they can be honest and open, it lowers the pressure to mask and allows them to lead from a place of authenticity.
• Providing Access to Mental Health Resources: Access to counseling or coaching can support high-masking leaders who struggle with burnout, imposter syndrome, and the pressures of masking.
• Training Teams on Neurodiversity Awareness: Educating teams on neurodiversity fosters understanding and can prevent misunderstandings around high-masking behaviors, creating a more supportive and empathetic workplace.
• Offering Flexible Workspaces and Schedules: High-masking leaders often need moments to recharge. Having flexible schedules or quiet spaces can help them regain energy and perform at their best without the continuous pressure of masking.

Conclusion: Leadership Beyond the Mask

High masking autism in leadership is a double-edged sword: it requires resilience, adaptability, and intense self-awareness. While these leaders face challenges like exhaustion and imposter syndrome, they also bring a host of unique strengths that enable them to lead with empathy, insight, and creativity.

Recognizing and embracing high-masking autistic leaders can be transformative for workplaces, opening up the doors to a style of leadership that’s not only strategic but deeply human. With the right support and understanding, high-masking leaders can harness their abilities, not only succeeding in their roles but reshaping what success looks like for all leaders.