Part Two: Neurodivergence at Work, The Benefits of a Neurodivergent Workforce
By Fay Capstick
Last week we looked at neurodivergence and how you can best accommodate neurodivergent staff in your workforce. This week will examine the benefits of having neurodivergent workers, and what some businesses are doing to attract such workers.
Increased Productivity
As we mentioned last week, many of your workforce will already be neurodivergent, potentially up to 20% of us are. By making the adjustments that we looked at last week, and by properly accommodating our needs, you will find that productivity and efficiency will increase. This is because people will be working in the way that suits them best, and when your workers are accommodated and happy they will produce better work.
Extra Creativity
Many neurodivergent people will have a different perspective on a problem. This is because our brains work differently. Having neurodivergent staff will lead to additional and innovative solutions to the problems suggested. Creativity and diversity are vital in the tech industry, where many jobs greatly benefit from divergent solutions.
Happy workers!
A workplace that is welcoming of all staff, including the neurodivergent, will be a happy workplace. And a happy workplace leads to happy workers. Happy workers leads to increased job satisfaction. And increased job satisfaction is a good thing for everyone.
Broader Talent
Being fully aware of neurodivergent people and making adjustments in the working environment will make your workplace appealing for neurodivergent job seekers. This will mean that you will have a wider talent pool of workers to choose from. Indeed, some workers might not be able to work traditionally and you can benefit from their skills.
Positive Branding
A workplace that is open and inclusive promotes diversity, and actively recruits and accommodates neurodivergent workers, will be a great place to work. A great place to work will build a great reputation and positive branding. You will then have a wider appeal to job seekers, clients, and customers. Further, you are also likely to attract more neurodiverse workers as people will actively promote your workplace to their job-seeking friends.
Flexibility
All neurodivergent people have developed strategies that can help them fit in with non-neurodivergent people. This means that we have strong coping skills and ways of adapting. This will result in you having a workforce that can best adapt to changing working methods and practices. This will be an extremely important element to have as the AI Revolution changes the way that the world works.
Customer Relations
Having a strong neurodivergent presence in your workplace will mean that you can provide better service to your customers and clients. This is because many of them will be neurodivergent too and you can provide them with a way of communicating that suits their communication skills and preferences.
Social Change
Having a strong neurodivergent presence in your workplace will mean that you are contributing to a positive social change towards empathy and inclusivity, as well as that you are taking advantage of the widest talent pool. Prioritizing inclusivity means that you are helping to promote a more equal society for all.
Problem Solving Enhanced
By having neurodivergent workers you will reap the benefit of enhanced problem-solving abilities. Different ways of thinking will result in different ways of doing, as well as different ways of approaching a challenge or problem. This will result in wider solutions, some of which will be unique. This can lead to your business or organisation having a commercial advantage.
Next week…
We will go on to look at the steps some businesses and organisations are taking to make sure that their workforces are as diverse, and neurodiverse, as possible.
Final thoughts
At Parker Shaw, we have been at the forefront of the sector we serve, IT & Digital Recruitment and Consulting, for over 30 years. We can advise you on all your hiring needs.
If you are looking for your next job in the IT sector please check our Jobs Board for our current live vacancies at https://parkershaw.co.uk/jobs-board