There are souls in this world who have the gift of finding joy everywhere, and leaving it behind them when they go. ― Frederick William Faber

It’s the holiday season and you never know when and how you will receive a gift.  Here’s an unexpected one. I’ve learned to be better at building relationships through my friendship with a friend on the spectrum; never would have expected this.

Were you aware, according to a study by Korn Ferry, 20% of the current workforce population is neurodiverse? Yes, and I’ve learned including people on the spectrum in the workplace and on a team can be a gift to the rest of the team and make us all better at relating to others.

The close friend of mine I mentioned admits she’s more on the spectrum than the general population. She has taught me valuable ways of looking at things. I bring this up in a blog about leadership because the members of your team with different ways of doing or seeing things can enhance how your team functions and can provide new perspectives, even possibly fun or joy. Here are the top five things I’ve learned through our friendship:

• It’s easy to trust those who are incapable of (or dislike) lying
• Being open creates unusual conversations and emotional bonds
• It makes you feel good to be around optimism and a lack of anger
• Being helpful to others makes it easier to ask for help
• Having someone to support your ideas and suggestions is invaluable

Truth-sayer

Nathalie (not her real name; I want to protect her identity) cannot lie. In her mind, there is only one way of thinking: authentic and fact-based. Because she can’t tell an untruth, you trust what you receive from her is genuine, and you can take comfort that this is someone in your circle who will always tell you the truth.  She made me realize how much I appreciate authenticity. And how having people around who you can trust make you feel secure and comfortable. Being able to hear the truth from people around you is not only refreshing, it’s useful and necessary in order for you to learn.

Conversation Guru

Along with the inability to create falsehoods is Nathalie’s way of communicating what she’s thinking, with no filter spared.  She doesn’t understand the nuances of what’s popularly considered appropriate conversation. I’ve watched how she engages everybody she meets, even if they may not always agree with her opinions or are uncomfortable with the topic. She also doesn’t like silence, so she can keep communication flowing with even the shyest people. Nathalie has been my teacher for engaging almost anyone in conversation to make them feel more comfortable. This is a worthwhile skill when trying to connect with people from different departments, cultures, or who are new to a team/company.

Positivity

People remark about how positive Nathalie appears. Positivity is her nature. In a recent book I loved, “Joe Nuthin’s Guide to Life” by Helen Fisher, Joe only sees the good in everybody.  He doesn’t judge people and only tries to understand their actions. He interprets the lousy stuff they may do as mistakes and not intentional. It’s simplistic, and it’s a beautiful way of being; it’s uplifting. That positivity is why people (in the book with Joe) and in person with Nathalie want to be around her. Don’t you want to be around optimists and those who think the best of people; it’s energizing when you’re tackling challenging or tedious projects at work.

Helping Hand

Nathalie also wants to help everybody. If you discuss personal consequences and suggest something that may not be convenient for her, Nathalie will often minimize the consequences and put herself out anyway. Because she’s so eager to help others, it feels good to be able to help her and reciprocate in some way. She is my role model for supporting friends and relatives. Having a helpful colleague often encourages a culture of support within a team.

Supportive

Nathalie is open and willing to listen to anything you may suggest.  She’s also encouraging when you are trying new things personally or professionally. While my friend may not have the professional knowledge of a mentor, Nathalie can see things with a unique perspective that is clear and untethered by prejudice or over-analysis. It’s beautiful to always have someone advocating on your behalf and believing in you because she cares about you. I don’t have a life partner to be my supporter, so Nathalie has been invaluable while I’m navigating the world. I try to emulate Nathalie’s supportive nature whenever possible when coaching. Encouraging colleagues can bring positive rewards for you and for them. Really, who couldn’t use more support professionally?

With Nathalie as an example, you can see how bringing someone with a different perspective can refresh, embolden, and motivate a workplace. There are some other ways someone on the spectrum can be a gift for a team. For instance, their unique problem-solving skills can bring fresh perspectives, leading to innovative solutions. And importantly, their attention to detail can ensure thoroughness in tasks.

While discussing the benefits of adding a person on the spectrum to a team, it’s important to remember that any different perspective can benefit a workplace and make a team better. So, rather than considering how AI can make work better, consider adding a dissimilar human helping-hand instead for 2025.

 

I’ve been where you are now, which is why I’ve worked with different consultants to up my game as a leader. I understand the strength it takes to move ahead. You can benefit from someone else’s experience and resources who has been in your position before and can relate to you. To learn more and discover which services within the Golden Monocle™ umbrella suit your needs, contact me at Susan@SusanGoldbergLeadership.com .

My work as a leadership and communication expert has me go into organizations with an outside, unbiased view to look at the information gaps. Using sensitivity along with proprietary and trademarked solutions, including a powerful team mapping tool, Collaboration Beyond Words™, I identify what an organization and/or its leaders are missing that’s holding them back from thriving and continuing to stay relevant.  Have practices become entrenched or no longer fit your plans for today’s workplace and goals? Contact me: Susan@SusanGoldbergLeadership.com Let’s talk.