To mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week, Consultant and trainer Joe Butler shares the importance of effective communication for neurodiverse staff. Butler also provides advice on how to adapt your communication style to support neurodiversity at work; and improve the workplace experience for all.
The Government published its national strategy on autism a few years ago. The strategy details plans for ensuring that autistic people have the same opportunities as everyone else, in all areas of life, including in work. Having worked with autistic people for over 20 years, I know the difference that effective communication can make to the workplace experience.
Statistics from the National Autistic Society show that more than one in a 100 people in the UK are autistic. Autism is just one example of both neurodiversity and neurodivergency, and means there will be some differences in how a person understands and expresses communication and language. It can also create differences in understanding social behaviour and the feelings of others, as well as in information and sensory processing.
ADAPTING COMMUNICATION STYLES
For an autistic person, communicating with an allistic (non-autistic) colleague – or perhaps several at once – can be confusing and exhausting. Whether consciously or not, autistic people often feel the need to mask their differences in order ‘to fit in’ with the allistic people around them. But effective workplace communication is a two-way process. HR/DE&I professionals can play an important role in helping allistic colleagues to understand the need to adapt their own communication style and the simple changes they can make. Here are a few pointers that can help:
Ask
All changes need to be person-centred. What works for one autistic person may not work for another. It is always best to ask your colleague how they prefer to communicate with you rather than just assume. This is true of all colleagues not just those who identify as autistic.
Slow down
Most of us are probably guilty of speaking too quickly. This can be overwhelming for some autistic people. But getting the pace and tone right can be difficult – you don’t want your conversation to sound unnatural or patronising. Try adding pauses. This will give your communication partner the extra time they may need to process and sort what you are saying. It may feel a little awkward to begin with but it will have a positive effect on your communication.
Give clear instructions
Clarity is important, particularly when giving instructions. Begin with the person’s name so they know that you are addressing them directly. Avoid abstract or generic terms, such as ‘the team’ or ‘all staff’, which may have little meaning for your communication partner. Keep instructions short and precise, and prioritise them in the order of importance. Give colleagues time to process information.
While being direct can be helpful, you need to judge the situation. If a colleague seems stressed or anxious, then it is best to avoid demanding language, such as ‘must’ or ‘now’.
Limit small talk
It is common in most workplace settings to begin or end a conversation or meeting with small talk. It is often how we bond with colleagues and build mutual understanding. For autistic people, however, small talk can be confusing and tiring, especially if it is on a topic which seems out of context or irrelevant. Try to find out about your communication partner’s interests, and invite them into the conversation by asking them a direct question. Keep small talk short, and make it easy for a colleague to exit a conversation or remain quiet, if they wish to.
Making group communication work
Group conversations can be particularly difficult for autistic people, who may find it hard to interpret non-verbal and social cues. If you are planning a team meeting or group session, think about the communication needs of the individuals involved. Having a clear agenda will help everyone to know what to expect. Stick to timings and schedule in breaks if it is a longer meeting. Turn-taking can ensure that everyone gets a chance to speak and knows when it is their turn. Offer written follow-ups as a reminder of what was discussed and agreed, as well as one-to-one meetings as an additional way for colleagues to input.
Written communication
Many autistic people prefer written communication, such as emails or text chat, to speaking on the telephone. Written communication can be easily referred back to and there is time for processing information and structuring a response. Just like spoken communication, however, it is important that written information is clear and to the point.
Avoid ambiguous or vague language. Many time expressions, such as ‘let’s talk about this later’ or ‘I need this done ASAP’, might be part of everyday language, but actually provide the autistic person with very little information. Does later mean later today, tomorrow, or later this week? Does ASAP mean in five minutes or by the end of the day? Use accurate time phrases instead, for example, ‘Let’s talk about this when we meet at 4pm’ or ‘This needs to be completed by midday’.
Too many filler words and phrases, such as ‘actually’ or ‘to be honest’, can also be confusing for autistic people as they make your message less clear and harder to understand. Highlight important information at the beginning of any emails or written correspondence. Use bullet points or numbering to separate out information. Consider using visual aids, such as charts and tables, where possible.
Phone calls
Autistic people often find speaking on the phone stressful, particularly if it is an unscheduled call. It may take time for your communication partner to switch their attention away from the task they were working on to the topic of discussion. It can also be difficult for the autistic person to know when to speak without the aid of visual clues.
If possible, arrange calls in advance and provide information about what you would like to discuss, or provide alternative channels of communication where possible. Also offer to follow up the call with a written summary of what was discussed.
Online meetings
The pandemic means that online meetings are now common practice in many workplaces. Some autistic people prefer meeting virtually to meeting in person as they have the option of participating via the comment box rather than verbally, and the meetings themselves may be more structured and predictable.
Participating in lengthy online meetings, however, can be exhausting for autistic people. Filtering out background sights and sounds can be difficult, as can following the flow of the conversation if there are several people participating.
Provide a clear agenda and remind everyone to turn off their mics when not speaking. Some autistic people find it hard to make and maintain eye contact. Allow your communication partner to turn off their camera if they prefer. Remember that communication preferences will vary from person to person, and from one workplace situation to another, so always check what your communication partner needs from you.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Joe Butler is a consultant and trainer who has worked with autistic people for over 20 years. Butler is also co-author of ‘Is That Clear? Effective communication in a neurodiverse world’, a simple and concise guide to autism-inspired communication for non-autistic people.
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