What’s your superpower at work? Richard Branson's super strength is his dyslexia. “Dyslexia was a blessing in disguise for myself,” the billionaire adventurer said. While it’s been misunderstood for ages, today dyslexic workers are being prided for their unique skill sets more than ever before. But workplaces still need to catch up and really tap into what dyslexic folks bring to the table. What can managers do to better support dyslexic workers? Let us know in the comments. Subscribe to This is Working linkedin.com/thisisworking.
I didn’t realize I was dyslexic until a couple years ago. No one ever told me I just seemed to figure it out. It would always take me longer to learn for any job I applied for. Looking back to when I was a child facing homework, not able to make any sense of the paragraph I just read, had me feeling hopeless and unintelligent. The more my mom and babysitter tried to help me the more I could not understand. I do my best when I have a face-to-face interview. I’m very passionate and honest about who I am, and what I can bring to a company. I can sell anything I believe in. ANYTHING. I find when working for companies that are extremely organized, in tern, that helps me to be the best I can be for that company. I excel at interacting with people on all levels.😊
Begin with the end of mind. When I have to doing something whether a meeting or dealing, setting up my mind is number 1 rule. Have you ever tried "imagining what you wanna get in something?" that's what I did .. If I need lets say 10 Bio.. I imagine my client or the meeting - hand shake - with 10 bio signed.. then mostly in reality when I met or had a meeting end up with the amount I want. I only missed the amount which was less than I imagined IF I had a doubt in myself. If I didn't have any doubt in my heart or mind, I get it easier. That's why when I have to deal something, I don't want someone else accompany me or I don't want someone else whom got less "confident" than me, go with me .. I don't like it because if I had to hear those person nervous, it made my concentration less than 100%.. I don't like it when it happened I didn't get the amount I want, mostly less.. or if I had to accompanied by that kind of person, I mostly will "make her/him' shout her/his mouth up - " silent or you stay in the car. I don't want you to go inside with me " strictly at the point. that's also the reason why many people said that I'm "rude" - snob, or evil etc . because I don't deal with people with nerves. I want confident people with me.
..& further more, the vast ocean of other Disabilities of th Mind so many beautiful employees face across th globe everyday💔 ..we definately need more mindfulness & support in workforce & development ..some disabilities {gifts} can not be viewd with th naked eye ..we look like normal everyday people ..most of which go above & beyond to be the best we can be for our chosen professions ..some of us conquer internal struggles within ourselves every day by getn up & showing up & get no credit or aknowledgment for all of our hardwork & we all know that good, honest, dedicated, hardworkers are sometimes hard to come across in todays society ..you Sir are th perfect example of just that ..Adventure on Beautiful Soul✨️🙏🏼🖤🍂✨️✨️
Being dyslexic forced me to develop photographic memory. Before 8th grade my mom never thought I would make it to High School (probably true). At beginning of 8th grade, I sat down with dictionary and learned all the words by heart and suddenly my written grades improved significantly. I did same on other languages and today I can see words in front of me and hence know how they should be spelled. Luckily the brain also adopted this memory for other areas so now I remember e-mails, content, etc. as pictures.
Thank you so much for sharing. As a dyslexic it has forced me to work harder and problem solve around the disability. In times when I’m stuck searching for my words, or fragment a sentence like Yoda, I have been Made fun of over those two things and my spelling. Thank God for grammarly and spell check! Lol.
I agree that employers should support their employees (dyslexia, ESL, etc), but in order to do so, the employers need to be made aware that there is a need. What is truly needed is more communication and trust building between employers and employees so that there is a comfort level which allows for the conversation to happen. If employers are made aware, there can be things put in place for individuals in need. Training centered around discussion rather than reading/writing; backup video or audiobooks for those who are dyslexic; translating material into other languages; etc. The first step is open discussion so that awareness is created. The rest will follow.
I once had a job, twice, as an internal auditor for Fortune 500 companies. My annual appraisals commented on my creativity and expertise in analyzing problems and finding solutions. I was never promoted because my reports, completed on a portable typewriter, were full of spelling errors and some sentence reversing. Being a field employee, I never had the luxury of a proof reader before it was sent into my managers. It the era that I grew up in, dyslexia was not part of a teachers education. The education system didn't get it and only said that you have to try harder.
Managers can better support dyslexic workers by offering personalized accommodations, such as providing written instructions in alternative formats, using assistive technologies, and allowing extra time for reading-intensive tasks. They should also raise awareness among team members about dyslexia, promoting an inclusive and understanding work environment. Encouraging open communication with dyslexic employees to identify specific challenges and solutions is crucial for their success and well-being in the workplace.
#ThisIsWorking @danielroth Terrific interview with David Branson! I was surprised, though, that there was no mention of the shame that many of us with dyslexia experience early on in our lives. That shame can certainly be a motivating force but it can also be an enormous burden that weighs heavily on how we view ourselves vs other people. That shame is also likely to influence many of the career decisions we make when we only see one part of a much larger picture.
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7moIt's important to note that dyslexia does not impact a person's intelligence or overall abilities. Many dyslexic individuals are highly intelligent and capable but may require accommodations or support in the workplace to help them overcome the challenges associated with dyslexia. This can include assistive technology, modified work tasks, or adjustments in communication methods to ensure they can excel in their roles.