Neurotypical people very often speak using vague language.
Is it because they are making an assumption that it could only be interpreted one way? That people will know what they mean because there’s only one obvious interpretation to them? (I’m genuinely asking here!)
The thing is when you do that, what you miss, is that neurodivergent people see something vague and immediately see many possible interpretations. That’s how we see the world, multiple potential options, directions, perspectives, interpretations. It’s what makes us good problem solvers and innovators.
The flip side of it is that it can be extremely overwhelming. That’s why we can easily become overstimulated, and have very busy internal worlds.
It’s also why we ask questions – to confirm, to gain clarity, to narrow down the options.
Too many people see those questions as annoying or unnecessary, and in addition to that creating a rough environment for neurodivergent people, its also a massive wasted opportunity.
If you want something very specific – be very specific.
Otherwise, embrace the question phase and you open up a smorgasbord of possibilities.
#ADHD #Autism #Neurodiversity #WorkplaceNeuroinclusion | 75 comments on LinkedIn