Podcast Special: Understanding Neurodiversity in Tech Industry
A conversation with about the perceptions and reality of having ADHD and working in tech.
Welcome to Tech Atypically 👋, your weekly blog for navigating the challenges of ADHD and being in the tech industry.
I am an ADHD and product management coach helping you change one belief and take one action each week.
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🦋 The Takeaways
Belief: Neurodiverse people are a burden to the tech industry.
Reality: We’re essential to it.
Action: Cultivate the self-awareness and courage to ask for what you need to be your best.
⭐️ Introduction
We’re back with another podcast special. I recently had the opportunity to share my insights on MAGICadmey, a podcast that explores how leaders cultivate curiosity and self-awareness for themselves and their teams.
In the episode, I discuss how I’ve navigated having ADHD and working in the tech industry. Furthermore, why neurodiverse individuals are essential to the industry and strategies for creating environments that cultivate and accommodate their creativity.
Key Points:
Reframe Your Understanding and Leverage ADHD Strengths: Recognize ADHD as primarily an emotional regulation challenge rather than just an attention issue. Identify and capitalize on your unique strengths, such as creativity and crisis management skills, to align your work with your natural abilities.
Implement the Three-Pillar Management Strategy: Establish a consistent sleep schedule, engage in regular exercise (aim for 30-40 minutes daily), and practice mindfulness or meditation. These three pillars form the foundation for better emotional regulation and cognitive function.
Customize Your Work Environment: Communicate your needs clearly to create a more ADHD-friendly workspace. This might include using noise-canceling headphones, requesting flexible work hours, or setting up your workspace to minimize distractions. When considering disclosure, focus on communicating specific needs rather than just revealing the diagnosis.
Foster Clear Communication Practices: Implement and advocate for clear communication practices, such as detailed agendas for meetings and explicit expectations for tasks. These practices benefit all team members, not just those with ADHD, and create a more inclusive work environment.
Embrace Neurodiversity in Leadership: For leaders, view neurodiversity as an asset to your team. Create a safe environment for open discussions about diverse working styles, and seek to understand each team member's unique strengths and challenges. Design opportunities that allow diverse thinking styles to contribute to project success.
Conclusion
You and I are essential to the innovations that make the industry possible. However, that only works if you can survive the environment you’ve been placed in.
Creating a more inclusive environment helps ensure that everyone, can bring their authentic self and contribute their best to the industry. And that gets all one step closer to financial freedom and not having to worry about working…
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⏭️Next Week
Self-care while trying to find a job.