As a leader, you want to help foster the success of all your employees. However, that journey will look different when you have neurodivergent employees on your team. Their path to success will derive from different avenues, causing you to possibly learn new communication tactics or leadership styles to help them achieve the success they deserve. 

So, if you want to ensure the success of your neurodivergent employees, here is what you have to do. 

Prioritize Open Communication at the Start 

From the hiring and interviewing stage to when they are working for you full-time, part-time, or even as contractors, communication is absolutely essential. Having open communication means that not only are you providing an environment where your neurodivergent team members feel safe and comfortable to speak to you, but it also means that you are able to quickly learn about their working styles, preferences, and necessities so they can work at their best. Remember, you might need to adapt to new communication tactics and unlearn some of the habits that are ingrained in our society, such as the importance of eye contact. 

Offer Reasonable Accommodations

Providing a successful workplace environment for your neurodivergent employees means you are open and capable of offering reasonable accommodations in compliance with federal and state laws. Many neurodivergent individuals will have specific needs and ways of working that allow them to be at their best, which will need to be brought into the workplace. This might be the ability to wear headphones, dimming the lights where their desk is, providing flexibility in the work schedule, or adding more accessible resources in the office. You will need to work with your neurodivergent employees to develop accommodation plans in order to implement them effectively.

Provide Clear Expectations and Instructions 

A significant way to help your neurodivergent employees be successful in your workplace is by providing clear expectations and instructions. Many times, neurodivergent individuals will need more than a head nod or vague instruction for a project to correctly understand what they need to do. It is best to get into the habit of clearly outlining what is expected of your employees and providing written instructions if necessary. Of course, the ideal way to know what your neurodivergent employees need in this area is to ask them. 

Create a Supportive Environment 

Neurodivergent employees will thrive in a workplace that empowers them in the face of bias. As a leader, you have the ability to create a workplace that has a supportive system in place all the way through HR to each department. An inclusive workplace will actively recognize and integrate neurodivergent employees into it. To ensure success, you must develop a culture and set of values that support everyone and provide equal opportunities for all employees. 

Encourage Education on Neurodiversity

One of the best ways to ensure the success of your neurodivergent employees is by educating and training the rest of your workplace on neurodiversity. When education is done, you can actively squash biases and help create a more inclusive environment. Education could look like teaching your teams about neurodivergent experiences or different communication styles and showing how to embrace, support, and recognize neurodiversity in the workplace. When neurodivergent employees see that their workplace is putting in the effort to create an inclusive and safe environment, they will be more engaged, productive, and likely to succeed. 

Bringing neurodiversity education to your workplace can feel overwhelming, but it is essential to helping your employees succeed. If you wish to strengthen your workplace and develop a more inclusive foundation, contact me