Are You Overcompensating?

The Neurodiversity Coach Newsletter

Welcome to The Neurodiversity Coach Newsletter. As an Executive Coach, Leadership Trainer and self-professed geek, I've had the opportunity to work with neurodivergent leaders and coach them through many leadership and workplace challenges. Each week I share resources and insights for neurodivergent leaders and the rest of us.

In this week's newsletter we discuss the pressure neurodivergent individuals feel that leads them to overwork.

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Are You Overcompensating??

He’s the hardest working software engineer I have met… and that is saying a lot. I’ve had the privilege to work with hundreds of engineers over the years—more than any other job type—and I’d be hard pressed to find even one who wouldn’t qualify as a workaholic in most circles.?

But this guy… he barely does anything besides work and sleep and I’m not saying he doesn’t enjoy it.?

In my experience, individuals who have been diagnosed with ADHD or Dyslexia in particular, tend to feel like they have to work harder than others to overcome the mental barriers they’ve been wired up with.?

The pressure to work harder may be self-imposed but don’t tell them—they strongly believe that if they didn’t work at 125% of others, they would be behind and not succeed.?

I have good news. Almost all of us feel that way about ourselves.?

One of the toughest lessons in the corporate workplace that we all have to learn is how to find our own work/life rhythm that is sustainable and fulfilling.?

If you do have neurodivergent traits, I would simply caution you to not make up that you MUST work harder. Take a step back and determine if your way of working is sustainable. Can you continue at this pace and keep the other commitments in your life alive for the next 3 months, 6 months, a year? If so—great! If not, you need to find sustainability otherwise you are asking for burnout which wouldn’t be good for you or for your organization.?

Same advice applies to neurotypical individuals.?

Tell me what you decide!

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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.

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

Feb 2: People are More Difficult than Algorithms

Jan 26: Nerds (and Geeks) are Leaders Too!

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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!

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