Expanding the Scope of Neurodivergent Leadership
credit K Rowan Gott
When you think about a neurodivergent leader who comes to mind?
A high energy, charismatic neurodivergent entrepreneur with a six point plan to success?
A neurodiversity workplace advocate who champions for rights and accommodations for neurodivergent populations?
A neurodivergent clinician or researcher who has dedicated their life to studying and understanding their own diagnosis so they can help others?
An ADHD influencer who shares their lived experience with vulnerability and lightness?
It makes sense. All of these individuals have found a way to integrate their lived experience with a cause and combine both with a skillset to share valuable information with the rest of us - to have a real impact. They have found a way to mix the two elements of neurodiversity and leadership successfully and convert it into a compelling message to broadcast to the world. And because of these individuals championing their cause effectively, we have been able to move the needle considerably on all topics related to neurodiversity.
When I think of neurodivergent leaders I think of these people. I also think of my Global Creative clients - individuals who tend to not fit these popular pictures of neurodivergent leadership. I would further argue that the examples shared above actually represent a small sample of the larger ND leader population.
Why?
Because most people, Global Creatives included, don’t see or appreciate the connection between neurodiversity and leadership. And many in the general population, unfortunately, see leadership and neurodiversity as incompatible bedfellows. Where it is safe and even beneficial to one’s brand to talk freely about one’s own lived experience (me included), most individuals still do not enjoy the freedom and safety to share freely about their own neurodivergent experience. They continue to operate by holding back or masking their true way of being in the world.
Clients new to coaching tend to identify with one aspect but not necessarily both. They are:
The innovative leaders who dismiss and diminish the value of their unique processing, even viewing their neurodiversity as a liability to real impact and influence.
Leaders who suspect there is real value to the way they see the world but they have not yet found a way to bridge the gap.
The wild and wonderful original thinkers who can’t shake an idea or a novel concept. Often wracked by imposter syndrome, they think leadership is reserved only for c-suite types or charismatic, high energy extroverts.
Much of the coaching work I do is locating the complementary aspects of leadership and neurodiversity. Here in this newsletter I will share stories of my Global Creative clients, the common struggles and challenges they face and how they tap neurodiversity, leadership and other strengths and resources to create the change they want in the world. There is Rosalie, the music teacher on the verge of burnout, who tapped an inner leader to inject interest and vitality in her love of educating children. There is Henry the healthcare CEO who overcame ADHD overwhelm to modernize supply-chain in his industry. There is Carole the award-winning architect, stymied with indecision, stepping powerfully into a leadership role and letting go of an energy robbing mask she carried for so many years.
It’s my opinion that we need to expand the scope of what it is to be a neurodivergent leader, to show how both elements can complement and enhance the other. Who's with me?