Neurodiversity in Data | Diversity of Thought and it’s Impact

I was lucky enough to have a recent conversation with Asheeka Hyde, ahead of our recorded interview for my Beauty by the Numbers data leader series. We got talking about how Asheeka came to be a data leader in the retail space, and she spoke about the importance of task management. From this conversation, we learnt that we both had dyslexia.

We discussed how living with Dyslexia is a journey of adaption and whilst it does provide learning differences that impact reading, writing, and spelling Asheeka and I also shared how it has given us a unique perspective and a different set of skills. We also discussed how it has allowed us to see the world from a different angle, enabling us to come up with innovative solutions and approaches that others might not have considered.

We also discussed how having difficulties with something that seems so basic to others has also taught us the importance of resilience and perseverance. It can also instil a growth mindset, encouraging us to view setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than stumbling blocks.

Having Grammarly downloaded, double-checking everything several times and having to have several different calendars to remember everything you need to do can be quite tiring so here are some of the tips we have come up with to help others in our community that might be struggling with these issues so that we have more time to focus on the positives of being dyslexic.

1.     Using Assistive Technology: Embrace the wide range of assistive technologies available to support your work

2.     Organisational strategies: Develop effective strategies to stay organised and help with memory like calendars, to-do lists, and project management software to prioritize tasks and deadlines which can all be found in one place. Break down complex projects into smaller, manageable steps to enhance productivity and reduce overwhelm

3.     Capitilise on Strengths: Dyslexia often brings unique strengths such as creativity, problem-solving, and out-of-the-box thinking. Leverage these strengths in your work and find opportunities where you can excel. Seek out projects or tasks that align with your abilities and interests

4.     Break Tasks into Smaller Chunks: Large tasks can feel overwhelming, so break them down into smaller, more manageable parts. This approach helps maintain focus and reduces the risk of feeling overwhelmed. Celebrate each completed step as a milestone towards accomplishing the overall goal.

5.     Continuous Learning: Stay committed to learning and improving your skills. Attend relevant workshops, webinars, or training sessions to enhance your professional development. Embrace opportunities for growth and keep up with industry trends.

Once you have these tips down you can focus on the whole range of benefits that being dyslexic provides.

Asheeka and I delved into the positive aspects that being dyslexic can provide to a workforce especially now as we step into a more digitalized world. Whilst we typically find things such as spelling, reading, and memorising, challenging this is now increasingly being done by machines. The soft skills often most valued in today’s workplaces such as communication, creativity, complex problem-solving, and interpersonal skills are the very skills that many people with dyslexia excel at.

Here are some examples:

• Dyslexic people have a range of natural strengths that make them “hard-wired” to meet the needs of this digitized and automated economy
• Trending demands for competencies such as leadership and social influence, creativity and initiative and analytical thinking and innovation are associated with typical dyslexic strengths
• In the future, enhanced tasks and new roles will be created that match closely to the strengths of dyslexic thinking including accountability, resilience, initiative taking, reasoning, social influence, critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and curiosity.

In order to really understand and gain the benefits from having a diverse workforce it is essential that we create an environment where individuals with dyslexia can thrive, unleashing their full potential.

Let us celebrate neurodiversity and work towards building workplaces and educational institutions that foster inclusivity and accommodate diverse learning styles. By fostering a deeper understanding, we can help create a more compassionate and inclusive society.

Together, let’s support each other, uplift one another’s strengths, and create a world where everyone’s unique talents are recognized and celebrated.

Emily is one of Orbition’s amazing Talent Partners. She has a passion for enabling organizations to drive decisions and obtain value from the use of Data, Analytics, and AI. She does this by connecting leaders and professionals within the senior end of the Data & Analytics space.  Read more.