Recognising neurodiversity as a challenge, but celebrating it's positive force for women in new business.
How does the added pressure of neurodiversity effect women in the early phase of starting a business?
In recent years, more neurodiverse women have been diagnosed later in life, rather than in their school years. This undoubtedly has a significant impact on women in business, as they have missed out on specific support at an earlier stage. Neurodiverse women with a recent diagnosis often say it explains why they work and feel the way they do, rather than helps it.
If you are one of those women, you’ll already be aware that conditions like ADHD and Autism present differently in women to men. And that you find it easier to mask your condition than a man might.
You no longer have to make excuses for your neurodiversity
The Brain Charity tells Erin’s story, a Development Manager and Business Analyst at Rio IT. Her school reports often said, ‘Erin is bright, but needs to apply herself’, or highlighted her as a daydreamer, talkative, forgetful or introverted. Sadly, she grew up believing these were hard-wired character flaws that she could do nothing about, and her self-criticism followed her into her adult life and work. (The Brain Charity)
However, with diagnosis, Erin and possibly you feel empowered to share your differences and expect reasonable adjustments in the business world.
In fact, neurodiversity presents opportunity to businesses
Whilst it is important to raise awareness of the challenges you face as a neurodiverse woman in business, that might be similar to these:
• Overwhelm
• Tendency to overshare
• Blunt communication
• Excessive multi-tasking
• Emotional sensitivity
It’s even more important to share the distinct benefits your traits can bring to business ownership and customer service:
• New perspectives
• Highly focused
• Creative thinking
• Lateral thinking
• Intense expertise
• Clarity of vision
Your neurodiversity may at times be challenging, and so can starting a business, but there are resources out there to help. Try looking up Neurodiversity in Business, The Neurodiversity Charity for useful resources. I encourage you to think of your neurodiversity as a positive force for your new business and customers!
I hope this blog has gone some way to making you feel empowered - Mike.
Mike Foster
The Entrepreneurs Mentor
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