Neurodivergent people often have skills and abilities that make them fantastic employees and entrepreneurs, but hand-in-hand with that are often problematic areas that can cause significant issues in the workplace. In fact, some of the areas that we often excel in – such as hyperfocus, problem-solving and creativity – are the same areas that can make the workplace a difficult environment. 

Let’s explore some of the key areas where difficulties can arise.

Take hyperfixation,

for example. So many of us become intensely, exclusively and passionately

interested in ideas, projects and things – which can make us incredible at our

jobs. The flip side is that it can be extremely difficult to switch tasks or to

balance a diverse workload. I remember having one job in the voluntary sector

and loving the research part and producing reports, but reaching a point of

having to leave because I was so far behind with the admin. Hyperfixation can

also lead to burnout. Working to set hours doesn’t always work for us,

particularly if we’re not taking breaks or holidays in order to see a project

through. And when we’re not interested in something…very, very extreme boredom

can make it almost impossible to manage certain tasks. 

We can also struggle with

interpersonal relationships and office politics. Neurodivergent individuals

often approach communication and relationships in ways that may differ from

workplace norms. If you’ve experienced issues making friends and forming close

relationships out of the workplace, or in establishing clear boundaries with

others and understanding people’s underlying motivations, it’s likely you’ll

carry this into the workplace. I often speak to people who feel isolated or

left out, or who have a tendency to overshare and find it hard to create

healthy boundaries between themselves and their colleagues. Workplaces tend to

run by unwritten rules and there are often subtleties in relationships that are

very hard to grasp, or which we simply don’t want to get involved in. Sometimes,

we spend more time with work colleagues than we do with friends and family. And

because there’s a financial, and often power, element to the workplace, people

often have underlying agendas, as well as sometimes facing their own

difficulties. Just being in a work environment, with its mix of personalities,

motivations and unwritten rules, can feel almost impossible. 

Then there are sensory sensitivities. Workplaces

are often the most challenging sensory environments to be in. And usually we

can’t just go for a lie down or a walk if things feel too overwhelming. We

might end up working in close proximity to others, dealing with background

noise and chat, working in busy, emotionally charged environments, dealing with

harsh retail lighting, coping with the smells of people around us. Whatever

your sensory triggers are, it’s likely they’re subjected to a full onslaught in

the workplace.

Uncertainty and changes to

routines are another area where challenges frequently arise. Sudden

schedule changes, last-minute tasks, or unpredictable environments can be

particularly distressing for those of us who rely on structure to feel

grounded. We’re often partly dependent on other people’s timetables and

actions. If a colleague is off or reschedules a meeting, we have to fit in with

it. If we suddenly have to deal with a customer complaint, we have no option

but to handle it there and then. We might have to change location or take on a

new role with little notice, all of which can feel extremely unsettling and

anxiety-provoking.

Experiencing communication differences is another common

experience for neurodivergent people. You might communicate in a way that seems

more direct, or you may need additional processing time to respond. No matter

how intelligent you are, it might be hard to follow someone’s instructions,

particularly when these are given verbally or when they’re too vague. I’ve been

in jobs where I’ve left meetings and have had no idea what was said – and I

didn’t have a clue how to ask for help. And talking of meetings, speaking up in

meetings, processing what’s being said at speed and coping with the anxiety of

being in a group can feel like a horrendous experience.

Emotional regulation is another key area.

The fast pace and high-pressure demands of many workplaces can trigger intense

emotional responses. For many of us, navigating criticism, frustration, or

unexpected situations may be particularly challenging, leading to moments of

emotional overwhelm that are often misunderstood by others.

Executive function issues

can lead to problems managing projects and meeting deadlines and many

neurodivergent people find themselves caught up in a cycle of being unable to

manage their workload, feeling unsupported in doing so, and finding ways – such

as pretending they’re ill – to avoid deadlines, which just makes the problem

worse. Impulsivity can lead to great things – new projects, new ideas – but the

downside is that it can lead to issues adhering to long-term work strategies or

working within the constraints of an organisation. Being creative and

spontaneous can also make it hard to bring other people along with your ideas.  

This list isn’t

exhaustive. Some other commonly faced issues include being overlooked for

promotion, feeling unable to work in a collaborative way and being unable to

manage work-related social roles. It might be that you’re experiencing

something else entirely. But whatever your experience, it’s likely that you’ve

felt a need to camouflage the amount of anxiety, executive function, social,

sensory or emotional difficulties you might be experiencing. All of which can

make the workplace seem like an unmanageable environment.