According to multiple studies, autism and workplace struggles often go hand in hand. Aside from the fact that just three in ten working-age autistic adults in the UK are actually employed right now, those who do manage to maintain jobs face higher pay gaps, lower job retention, and ongoing negative bias regarding everything from ability to intellect. These issues mingle with the stimulatory overload of many workplaces and the social requirements of the working world, to mean that many individuals with autism may struggle to thrive.
But what does that mean for you if you’ve received a recent autism diagnosis? Well, the chances are that all of the above sounds painfully familiar to you, even if you didn’t understand the specifics up until this point. Perhaps you’ve always been overwhelmed by workplace politics? Maybe you’ve never been able to concentrate properly on tasks in an open-plan office? High levels of workplace anxiety are also likely, and may mean that you’ve always struggled with lingering and invasive negative feelings around your job.
Luckily, just as it’s the first step towards taking back control of your personal self, an official autism diagnosis can be the first step towards finally transforming your working world in all of the right ways. Keep reading as we take you through the key ways to achieve that goal.
# 1 – Reframe Your Workplace Strengths
It’s easy to focus on the negatives when it comes to autism and the workplace, and the majority of media surrounding this topic falls into precisely that trap. After all, autism doesn’t feel like a great fit for societal assumptions surrounding workplace norms. We’ve been told for decades at this point that social, communal work in loud, brash environments is the only way to succeed. But, guess what? Conversations are changing.
From Susan Cain’s ‘Quiet’, to a wider understanding of the need for flexible or remote work, we’re now far more aware of working differences and requirements, and autism fits well within that. While Cain was largely speaking about the differences between introverts and extroverts when she wrote ‘Quiet’, the vast majority of her points also apply to neurodivergence. Mainly, we can take away this – not thriving in a ‘stereotypical’ social office doesn’t make you bad at your job, and no one can say otherwise. Moreover, autism actually provides an invaluable toolkit of skills that can help you thrive in the workplace where other people are more likely to fail
For instance, individuals with autism are typically armed with niche, specialist knowledge sets, attention to detail, and innovative thinking. Instead of focusing on potential negatives when you receive your diagnosis, lean into these strengths and use them to create a working environment that actually works for you.
# 2 – Seek Help Where You Struggle
Ultimately, the aftermath of an autism diagnosis isn’t going to be all roses and new skillsets. You’ll also likely become more conscious of potential personal struggles, and may even realise a few difficulties that you weren’t aware you had before. This can be difficult, and it may see you feeling initially more self-conscious or uncertain in your standard working environment. But remember that diagnosis is all about getting the help you need, and the workplace is no exception.
Once you’ve received an official diagnosis, you really aren’t alone in these challenges. Your employer should also take steps to make your working life easier, which here in the UK may include Access to Work Grants if you need specialist equipment, or employee assistance programs that grant access to private workplace counselling. You’re also fully within your rights to request allowances like email-only communications if you find face-to-face interactions distracting when you’re completing a project, and even remote working if you find the office environment difficult to deal with.
It’s also worth noting that you can take steps towards easing your own struggles. For instance, many individuals with autism benefit from additional personal tools like noise-cancelling headphones and time management programs. Equally, personal autism coaching can be an incredibly useful tool, which helps you develop coping mechanisms for key friction areas like communication issues and sensory overload. This ensures that you’ll have the knowledge necessary to thrive in the workplace, even when specific personal allowances don’t apply.
# 3 – Sprinkle in Some Self-Compassion
Diagnosis often comes with an adjustment period while individuals reframe certain events in their lives through a more sympathetic personal lens. Perhaps you realise that autism may have contributed to relationship breakdowns in the past, or led to you missing out on certain opportunities. This is a kind of grieving process, and it will largely relate to your personal life, but it’s also worth sprinkling in some self-compassion when it comes to your working life.
After all, a diagnosis could go a long way to helping you see why you’ve previously struggled to contribute to group meetings, or why your output might slow down during the busiest days in the office. These are all things that you can be more aware of moving forward, and they aren’t the only compassionate changes you might want to make.
Let’s say you’ve always been in competition with this one employee who seems to sell more products, work more quickly, and seems more popular in the office. Previously, you might have seen this discrepancy as a personal failure, and that could have held you back from acknowledging your own achievements. Now, you can be more mindful and accepting of why you struggle to achieve those same goals. What’s more, with a compassionate approach to your own workplace results, you’ll be in a better position to differentiate your output (e.g., highlight those skills we spoke about in the beginning), rather than constantly comparing and harming your prospects as a result.
Conclusion
The weeks, months, and even years after an autism diagnosis can be as transformative as they are challenging. However, diagnosis almost always has the potential to improve your working life, especially if you lean into the vital areas for transformation that we’ve discussed throughout this article.
