Did you know that neurodivergent professionals are more likely to experience burnout in their careers than their neurotypical counterparts? . That’s why the unemployment rate for neurodivergent adults is so high (30-40% in America) – and those who do manage to land jobs are much more likely to change jobs frequently.
Despite the bleak picture these statistics paint, there are neurodivergent professionals out there who are breaking barriers and experiencing success in their careers. And for those of us who feel trapped or stuck regarding our work lives, their stories can bring much needed hope.
That’s precisely why we decided to spotlight Desiree Green in our most recent Office Hours Q&A. She shared her success story with us – read on for her thoughts on dealing with burnout, requesting accommodations in the workplace, her experiences managing a team of neurodivergent professionals, and more!
Who Is Desiree Green?
Desiree Green is the owner and consultant of Emerald Earnings, an agency that supports women-owned businesses with services, including online business management, social media management, website design, financial management, and branding.
Before starting her own business, Desiree worked in the corporate sector. She thrived in the hospitality industry because she genuinely loved connecting with customers and her coworkers.
Eventually, she became a consultant for a firm that earned $25 million a year in revenue. She worked with management teams to develop training programs for leadership teams and staff. She received lots of awards and recognition for her contributions and outstanding work.
Desiree says one of her biggest accomplishments was building a team of approximately 15 neurodivergent individuals, and developing a supportive management style that took each team member’s well-being and unique work style into account.
Despite these wonderful accomplishments, Desiree experienced her fair share of struggles as she got denied for her first promotion. She also struggled with repeated episodes of burnout due to the demanding nature of her work.
Advice For Navigating the Corporate World as a Neurodivergent Professional
The corporate world can be overwhelming and extremely demanding, especially for neurodivergent professionals. While this can be a challenging environment for neurodivergent folks, Desiree says there are things you can do to adapt.
Develop systems that work for your brain
Get to know your strengths and limitations. If something isn’t working, try a different approach, even if it isn’t considered standard practice. For Desiree, she identified that she and her team would have high energy days and low energy days. Instead of pushing her team members to adhere to traditional productivity standards, she developed a management strategy and processes so they could better support one another on low energy days.
Ask for support
If you’ve identified something that isn’t working for you in your work life, consider requesting support from your employer. Proposing accommodations or even having an honest chat with your manager can open up options you may not have considered.
Learn to pick your battles
One of the most difficult parts about being neurodivergent in the corporate world is having to accept processes, decisions, and interactions that you may not agree with. Desiree says learning when it’s appropriate to speak up and when to keep quiet is essential. With experience, you’ll learn what issues are worth your time, and which ones to let go.
How Managers Can Support Neurodivergent Employees
As a manager of a team of 15 neurodivergent individuals, Desiree strived to be the most effective manager she could be. Her approach was rooted in open and honest communication with her team members.
Desiree says a manager should be understanding and supportive, no matter the situation. She gave her employees flexibility to dictate their own schedules, provided they consistently met their deadlines and completed their work on time.
Lastly, Desiree says she would watch for signs of burnout in her team members. This required her to have a strong relationship with each employee. If she noticed a team member struggling with their work, Desiree would do her best to support them. Depending on the situation, this may have looked like extra days off, transferring tasks to another team member, or sending individuals home early to recover.
Dealing with Burnout at Work
Desiree shared that she burnt out multiple times throughout her career. During these burnout phases, she would take 2-3 weeks off to recover. It was through these experiences that she learned how to identify the signs of burnout. Upon her recognizing the signs, she would communicate to her team about her needs.
In terms of how to deal with burnout, Desiree suggests limiting yourself to certain tasks scheduled. Additionally, she suggests watching how much energy you put out. As neurodivergent professionals, we tend to bleed energy so it is important to be mindful of this.
Asking for Accommodations
Asking for accommodations can be nerve wracking for neurodivergent professionals. Desiree recommends brainstorming and writing down ideas with a trusted individual, like a friend or family member.
When proposing accommodations and support to your employer, be prepared to address the challenge or block you’re experiencing at work, and explain how your proposed accommodations will positively impact your ability to do your job well. Desiree says when speaking with management, be mindful of your tone of voice.
Advancing to Leadership Roles
If you have the option to advance into leadership roles but aren’t sure how to go about it, Desiree has solid advice surrounding this topic.
Desiree states the first most important step is to develop your communication and presentation skills. When presenting yourself and your skills, it is important to articulate these clearly.
Desiree also suggests finding a mentor that supports your career and goals. To succeed in a leadership role, it’s important to know your strengths and address and challenges you have in your work life.
In alignment with this advice, Desiree suggests writing a letter of intent about why you are a good fit, strengths, and how you will address challenges. The biggest takeaway from this section of advice is to remember that if you get passed up for this opportunity, it is not a reflection of you. There could be a plethora of reasons why you don’t get a promotion, so don’t take it personally.
All of these tips can contribute to your neurodivergent career success story. If any of this resonated with you, know that you are not alone and there is hope. Don’t give up and take that chance on a job you find – it may turn out to be a great career for you.