Neurodivergent – someone whose brain functions differently than what society considers typical.
Neurotypical – someone whose brain functions in the way expected by society.
Neurodiverse – a group with both neurodivergent and neurotypical people.
The term “neurodiversity” acknowledges that human brains work in a wide variety of ways. Neurodivergent individuals include people with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), dyslexia, and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
Creating neurodiverse teams is becoming more common in organizations, and for the right reasons: there’s going to be many more neurodivergent people in the future workplace and working effectively with one another’s unique strengths will benefit companies. As evidence of this shift, many of the largest and most forward-looking organizations, including some of TRACOM’s clients, have signed on to the Neurodiversity @ Work Employer Round Table, a nonprofit resource to promote disability workplace inclusion, pledging to hire and develop more neurodivergent people.
Research shows that this increase in neurodivergent people is real. According to the American Psychological Association, an estimated 17% of children in the United States have one or more developmental disabilities—physical, learning, language, or behavioral—and in a study published in 2023, nearly 3% of 8-year-olds were found to have autism, a dramatic increase since 2000, when the figure was well under 1%. The reasons for the increase are not entirely clear but are partly attributed to better diagnostic methodologies. This means that there are likely many more neurodivergent working adults than previously thought, and this number will increase in the future.
Does Neurodivergence affect SOCIAL STYLE?
Given the numbers of neurodivergent people, are there any meaningful differences between them and neurotypical people in their SOCIAL STYLE behaviors? Does neurodivergence affect people’s “say and do” behavior? Are neurodivergent people more likely to be one Style rather than another? I’ll use autism and ADHD as examples but remember there are many types of neurodivergence.
Like neurotypical people, neurodivergent people have unique ways of communicating, problem-solving, and approaching assignments, and these attributes can be affected by their specific condition. For instance, autistic people may have difficulty maintaining eye contact and interpreting non-verbal cues from others. As a result, they tend to communicate very directly and literally. They also have a heightened ability to focus on details and often prefer structured and predictable environments.
People with ADHD often display high levels of creativity and may thrive in fast-paced and evolving environments. They’re sometimes impulsive and take risks, and this can translate to innovation and a willingness to try new approaches. They’re also spontaneous and can be engaging, though might often interrupt others during conversations.
Some of these descriptions are similar to Style characteristics: some Styles are more detail-oriented while others focus on the big-picture; some Styles focus on relationships while others are focused on tasks.
Regarding “say and do” behaviors, neurodivergent people exhibit a range, just as neurotypical people do. However, this is also likely to be affected by their specific condition. For instance, autistic people might often be seen as Analytical Style since they can come across as more Controlled and Asking in their behavior. People with ADHD might come across as more Emoting and Telling, so Expressive Style might be more common among these individuals. These are only general predictions, there will always be exceptions to these patterns, just as there are for neurotypical people. The important thing to remember is that a person’s behavior and work preferences will be affected by their particular neurodivergent condition.
Does Neurodivergence affect Versatility?
Neurodivergent people’s social interactions and other behaviors can affect how their Versatility is seen by others, especially by people who aren’t familiar with their condition. For instance, autistic individuals may prefer isolated work environments where they don’t have to interact as often with others, limiting their opportunities to interact and develop relationships. They might have difficulty expressing themselves, especially in large groups, and might come across as blunt in some situations. They might also have natural Versatility strengths. For example, their ability to focus intently on tasks can help them discover new insights that aren’t obvious to others, and they can be highly reliable in accomplishing difficult assignments without oversight.
People with ADHD can have difficulty focusing on long, detailed conversations, and can be impulsive and forceful in their opinions. This can make others uncomfortable and limit their effectiveness. On the positive side, they can be seen as optimistic, enthusiastic about innovation, and good at team building.
Neurodiverse and Neurotypical – Focus on Behavior
Remember, “neurodiversity” means there are a variety of ways people think and, therefore, behave, and this is exactly what SOCIAL STYLE programs strive to help people understand. By paying attention to people’s behavior, you’ll gain insight into their needs and preferences, and this can be a bridge to better understanding them. If your co-workers are neurodivergent, use your knowledge of Style to help you understand how they prefer to work. This will help you communicate more effectively with them and create an environment where they can succeed. Be empathetic by recognizing that they will perform best when you understand and respect their needs. That advice should sound familiar to anyone who has learned about SOCIAL STYLE and Versatility!
Key Points for Facilitators
People are very curious about neurodiversity, and it is likely to be discussed during programs. Here are some key points to consider.
- There are many types of neurodivergence. Autism, ADHD, and dyslexia are common examples.
- Neurodivergent people’s behavior will likely be affected by their specific condition. Autistic people behave differently from people with ADHD. People with other types of neurodivergence will have unique thinking and behavior patterns.
- The specific condition will likely affect “say and do” behaviors. Autistic people might talk less and be more controlled than people with ADHD. Therefore, more autistic people might be seen as Analytical Style while people with ADHD might be seen more frequently as Expressive Style. These are broad predictions: there are always exceptions.
- The specific condition can affect perceptions of Versatility, for better and worse. Autistic people can have difficulty with social communication but be very detail-focused, intuitive, and reliable. People with ADHD can be unfocused and impulsive but optimistic, engaging, and creative.
- The first step to working more effectively is to observe behavior. This is true whether a person is neurodivergent or neurotypical. Understanding someone’s needs and preferences will help you develop a better relationship and work more effectively with them. This is the bridge to better understanding.
