In today’s enlightening episode, Doris and Regina welcome Jeanne Fain, an expert in neurodivergence, to discuss the importance of embracing neurodiversity within the workplace. Jeanne shares her personal journey and professional expertise in coaching neurodivergent individuals, especially those with autism, ADHD, and anxiety, helping them unlock their potential in both personal and professional settings. She explains the difference between neurodiversity—acknowledging the natural variations in how people’s brains function—and neurodivergence, which refers to conditions that deviate from the neurotypical norm.

 

Jeanne highlights the strengths that neurodivergent individuals bring to the workforce, such as strong attention to detail, creativity, and the ability to hyper-focus, especially in tasks like coding and data analysis. She also discusses the challenges they face, including social awkwardness, sensory issues, and difficulties with communication, which can affect their work performance and relationships. The conversation dives deep into practical strategies for managers and hiring teams to better understand and support neurodivergent employees, fostering an inclusive environment where all team members can thrive. This episode is a must-listen for leaders seeking to build high-performing, diverse teams that capitalize on the unique strengths of every individual.

 

Additional Links from our discussion:

• https://hbr.org/2017/05/neurodiversity-as-a-competitive-advantage

https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/10/neurodiversity-neuroinclusion-workplace-business/#:~:text=Neurodiversity%20refers%20to%20the%20natural,but%20their%20inclusion%20remains%20limited.

• https://www.inderscienceonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1504/JBM.2016.141240
• https://www.springhealth.com/blog/neurodivergent-employees-boost-productivity-innovation
• Welcome to Temple Grandin's Official Autism Website

 

00:00 Introduction and Excitement for the Episode 00:46 Meet Our Guest: Jeanne Fain 01:58 Understanding Neurodivergence 11:23 Challenges Faced by Neurodivergent Individuals 16:34 Supporting Neurodivergent Employees 24:45 Hiring Neurodivergent Talent 35:13 Key Takeaways and Personal Stories 39:38 Conclusion and Call to Action  

We'd love to connect! You can find us in all of these places:

• Regina
• Email: [email protected]
• Website:  www.collectivegrowthcc.com
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/reginataute
• Free Coaching Session: https://calendly.com/collective_growth/complimentary-30-min-coaching-session
• Doris
• Email: [email protected] 
• Website: www.dunnwise.com
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/doris-dunn
• Schedule a Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/dunnwise-consulting/30min_discovery_call
• Jeanne Fain
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: Real Life GPA
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeanne-fain-91369b64/

 

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If you are interested in being a guest and/or you have an engaging topic you want to learn more about, please email us at [email protected] with details and how to contact you.