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.

How do you quantify the impact of neuro-inclusion in organizations? (with video)

Measuring neuro-inclusion in organizations by focusing solely on the proportion of neurodivergent employees overlooks the essence of true inclusion. Rather than fixating on headcounts, organizations should define outcomes driven by neuro-inclusive practices, such as enhancing innovation culture. By identifying metrics that measure improvements in innovation and collaboration, organizations can effectively gauge the impact of their neuro-inclusive initiatives. These metrics, complemented by qualitative insights, provide a holistic view of organizational change, ensuring that neuro-inclusion leads to meaningful transformation rather than mere tokenism.

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How to build a neurodiversity-inclusive organization

Introducing neurodiversity-inclusion through employee resource groups often burdens neurodivergent individuals with repeated accommodation requests, leading to fatigue and burnout. A top-down, leadership-driven cultural change is essential for true inclusion. By fostering a supportive and adaptive culture, organizations can reduce the need for individual accommodations, ensuring all employees thrive and enhancing overall performance and innovation.

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From promise to performance: cognitive inclusion to integrate a start-up acquisition boosts innovation

Large corporations often acquire start-ups to boost innovation and gain employees with a risk-taking mindset, while start-ups seek the scale and resources of corporates. However, integration challenges like power imbalances and culture clashes can hinder success. Lisa argues that a cognitively inclusive culture, which embraces diverse thinking styles and values curiosity, respect, and open communication, can facilitate smoother integrations and accelerate benefits from acquisitions. She suggests that focusing on such a culture during acquisitions can prevent negative outcomes and enhance overall innovation.

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