Inside View

I share thought leadership exploring the transformative impact of designing cognitive inclusion into our teams and workplaces. People metrics, such as engagement and wellness, soar, as do business metrics such as retention, innovation, and overall performance.

I draw on scientific and business literature, as well as personal experience, to discuss how taking inspiration from neurodvergence-inclusion and sharing it amongst everyone builds teams where every member – regardless of their cognitive style – can thrive. Cognitive inclusion is truly universal.

Browse, or get started with these curated reading lists.

Actionable communication: inspiration from autism best practices

Improve business communication by adopting autism-inspired practices to create clearer, more actionable messages. Miscommunication can lead to frustration, unengaged culture, and reduced performance. By slowing down, reducing noise, and clarifying idioms, you make communication more inclusive, benefiting not only autistic employees but also non-native speakers and your entire organization. Effective communication requires effort from both parties: the sender should aim for clarity, and the recipient should seek understanding. Implementing these strategies can enhance engagement, satisfaction, and productivity across your organization.

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Creativity is a natural dyslexic trait, and a critical part of your organization’s collective genius

Dyslexics exhibit superior holistic visual-spatial processing and memory for contextual information, which enhances their creativity and ability to generate novel ideas. They excel in original thinking, accuracy in predictions, and problem-solving flexibility, thanks to distinct brain structures and connections. While dyslexics might struggle with precise details, their cognitive strengths complement those of others, highlighting the evolutionary advantage of diverse cognitive styles and the importance of fostering an inclusive organizational culture to leverage these varied abilities.

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Bad decision? You’re not alone, but let’s try to avoid making the same mistake again…

People often make poor decisions due to inherent biases, but autistic individuals are exceptional at objective decision-making, as they focus solely on relevant data without distractions. To benefit from this cognitive strength, organizations should cultivate a culture that attracts and supports autistic team members, ensuring an environment that maximizes their unique abilities. This proactive approach not only enhances decision-making but also creates a more inclusive and effective workplace for everyone.

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Maximizing creativity in brainstorming: idea generation inspired by neuro-inclusion best practices

Inclusive brainstorming taps into the collective genius of diverse teams by accommodating different communication and thinking styles, particularly those of neurodivergent and introverted individuals. Humans have evolved to excel at problem-solving through specialized sub-groups, and to capture their full potential, brainstorming processes need to be more inclusive. Best practices include sharing materials beforehand, offering a mix of verbal and written contributions, and allowing time for post-session input. By fostering an environment that supports diverse approaches to ideation, teams can unlock a wider range of creative solutions and ensure that all ideas are heard.

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Autism traits and high-performing teams: lessons from Silicon Valley

Inspired by Steve Silberman's "The Geek Syndrome," this article emphasizes the benefits of neurodiversity for organizational success. Silicon Valley’s tech-centric culture attracted autistic individuals, highlighting the value of cognitive diversity. By fostering diverse thinking styles and supportive cultures, organizations can enhance innovation and performance. Key points include leveraging diverse cognitive strengths and creating inclusive environments to unlock collective genius.

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My neuro-inclusive website bridges accessibility and aesthetics

In crafting my new website, my top priority was ensuring it's accessible and engaging for both neurodivergent and neurotypical users, drawing from neuro-inclusion principles. With a calming color palette, easy-to-read fonts, and static content, the design minimizes distractions while enhancing usability and visual appeal. Striking a balance between diversity and consistency, the site aims to offer an inclusive experience that welcomes all visitors.

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