What does good leadership look like when the traditional way of working doesn’t necessarily work for you?

In this episode, Karen welcomes Jess Jasch back to talk about her experience as an autistic and ADHD leader. They explore what neurodivergent leadership can look like in practice, from understanding your own needs and communicating differently to masking, burnout and the assumptions we make when someone appears to be coping well.

It’s also a broader conversation about leadership. Because whether someone is neurodivergent or not, people don’t all need the same environment, communication style or way of working to perform at their best.

In today’s episode, you will learn about:

→ Why neurodivergent leaders can find traditional expectations around leadership, availability and the workplace more draining than they appear from the outside.

→ Why supporting neurodivergent employees doesn’t have to start with a diagnosis, and the simple question leaders can ask instead: What do you need to succeed in your role?

→ How small changes to communication — including giving context rather than simply messaging “Can we talk?” — can make it easier for people to process information and show up prepared.

→ The difference between adapting the way someone works and lowering performance expectations, and why the optics of work don’t always tell us much about actual performance.

→ How leaders can model their own needs and create greater safety for other people to ask for what helps them work well.

→ Why describing neurodivergence as a “superpower” can overlook the very real challenges and accommodations that may sit alongside someone’s strengths.

→ What masking can cost someone over time, including the active recovery that colleagues and managers may never see.

→ Why someone performing well isn’t necessarily the same as someone coping well — and why the person who always seems capable may still need you to check in.

Jess also shares some of what she learned through writing her book, Leaders Who Thrive: A Mindful Antidote to Disconnected Teams, and why completing it changed the way she thinks about taking on difficult projects.

Connect with Jess and find out more about her book:
https://jessicajasch.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicajasch/

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