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Have you ever wondered how to be successful at work if you are an individual with Aspergers on the autism spectrum? How to successfuly navigate a sometimes stormy social ocean filled with sensory challenges?
The challenge for me, an NT, is that I am not you, an individual on the spectrum.
So I turned to two very successful adults with Aspergers for answers. And I found those answers in an article and a book.
Penelope Trunk is the founder of three startup companies. She blogs, and gives career advice to young people, NT's and Aspies alike. Her career advice appears in more than 200 newspapers! So I think she's qualified to help.
Rudy Simone is an accomplished author, consultant, and musician, and author of three books: Asperger's on the Job, Aspergirls, and 22 Things a Woman Must Know If She Loves a Man with Asperger's Syndrome.
Here are a few tips taken from both Penelope's article and Rudy's book.
Limit the amount of time you spend with people.
Ms. Trunk shares a very helpful tip here. You can spend just enough time with people to appear be social, but you don't have to draw it out excessively.
Because if you do, you may drive both yourself and others crazy. In the words of Ms. Trunk:
"So go out to dinner, but then go home. Go to the company picnic, but just talk with people for a little bit. Then leave. At work you do not need to spend tons of time with people. You can be the weird, smart one. As long as you’re not too weird. Get along with people for a
little. Then go back to your cube."
Don't (over) tell your boss.
Ms. Trunk states that your boss does not have the time or energy to read up on all the finer points of Asperger's Syndrome. That may be true, but a book like Asperger's on the Job may be a very helpful book for your boss to have on hand to better understand you. Just don't expect that s/he will read it all right away. The book is very readable, and has lots of tips for a manager/boss/supervisor.
It's tough to be a socially 'blind' Aspie in a socially 'seeing' work environment. What I mean is that it's hard to always understand what is expected.
Ms. Trunk encourages individuals with Aspergers not to be shy about asking a trusted co-worker or boss for social tips in the course of a day.
Be great at what you do, and only a little odd
I don't want to go on record by saying someone like Bill Gates has Aspergers. I've heard the rumors, but don't know whether he's ever formally been tested.
But for any of his social bluntness or other mannerisms, I'm sure that everyone around and under him has overlooked "idiosyncracies' due to the huge talent he developed in computers and business.
What You Can Do About Office Politics
Be direct. In other words, you will need to develop an interest in people's expressions. Yes it's hard, but it is do-able. Ms. Trunk states that she will ask co-workers and colleagues several times a day sometimes whether they are angry. They seem surprised that she can't tell, but she says that's the only way she can know for sure.
Think about how other's expressions impact you. Do you like it better when they scowl, or when they smile? By seeing how other's expressions affect you, it may help you figure out which expression to use.
Take different pictures of yourself with as many expressions as you can simulate. Then ask yourself or a friend which of those expressions is most pleasant and welcoming. This can help you figure out what may be some of the best expressions for you to assume.
Carry a hand mirror around with you and monitor your expression during the day. Ms. Simone writes that she used to walk around with a scowl much of the time because of the sensory issues associated with sounds, lights, and social overload. She did not realize that her reaction was to scowl, until she started monitoring herself.
Don't get (overly) frustrated by the rules.
One of the books Rudy Simone suggests that you purchase is called the Hidden Curriculum (Myles, Trautman, & Schevlan 2004). Study this book, and you will get a better understanding of some of the social rules in your workplace (and outside of it!). You are probably very much of an independent person in your areas of interest. Work on making this area interesting. Just realize that NT's are not wired to make sense to you.
Just as it's helpful when NT"s take the time to understand Aspies, you will also need to take the time to learn what you can about the area of social interaction.
