Episode: 814

Episode Title: To Share Or Not To Share

Opening up about your struggles can be difficult for anyone, and especially for neurodiverse people. More on that, next on The Perna Syndicate.

Ep 814 show:

You’re now in The Perna Syndicate—welcome! Should you tell the people you work with that you’re neurodiverse? This is a very personal decision and every situation is different. That said, there are some definite upsides to being open about the fact that you learn differently. 

When it comes to opening up about learning difficulties, neurodiversity advocate David Flink suggests sharing as much or as little as you feel comfortable doing. If you do share, it may be helpful to also talk about some of the resources or tools that have helped you succeed with your learning difference.

Flink says that, quote, “for those of us who are neurodiverse, our learning differences are gifts that allow us to see the world differently and find solutions to complex problems. We are an asset to potential employers.” End quote.

I’d like to underline Flink’s point by adding that any organization that overlooks the potential talent of someone with a learning difficulty is shooting itself in the foot. In fact, I’d like to see more organizations think about how they can actively recruit neurodiverse talent, as well as encourage more of their employees to open up about their challenges in this area.

Neurodiverse people have a different view of the world, and they can provide insights that we might otherwise miss. A workplace where people feel safe sharing their struggles sounds like a great work environment for everybody. 

I appreciate you tuning in for another day on The Perna Syndicate! Join me again tomorrow as we wrap up the conversation with the story of a neurodiverse individual who overcame her challenges in higher education. See you then!