Neurodivergent Business Owners: Strategies for Success
Not neurotypical? No problem! Our advice for business owners
Neurodiversity is increasingly recognised and diagnosed in the modern age, often allowing those with differences like ADHD, dyslexia, and autism to adapt, thrive, and be understood. Although the rich diversity of how we think is more out in the open, many systems of learning, socialising, and work are still set up for neurotypical people—and this can present challenges.
Being neurodivergent can be an asset in business in a lot of ways, and a hurdle in others. For example, creative solutions may come easy, while day-to-day administrative tasks are difficult to stay on top of. At Released, we are no strangers to the concept; we have both team members and clients with first-hand experience. We’ve put together a few tips to help them and other business owners get through in a world that’s not always set up for them to succeed!
Get your environment sorted
We can’t give specific tips on this, because each individual will have their own preferences for a working environment. Ask yourself:
Do you like noise when you’re working? Music? A podcast? White noise?
Do you prefer to be alone, or is it easier to focus when you have someone around (body doubling)?
Are you OK with falling out of bed and into your home office, or is it better to get dressed and go for a walk first?
Are you able to focus better at a cafe or in an office rather than at home, where there are distractions?
Finding the answers to these questions may take some experimenting. Pay attention to your productivity in different environments and optimise your working experience. For many neurodivergent people, what’s around them can make or break their productivity and mood.
Manage time mindfully
Time blindness or poor time management in general is a common challenge for neurodiverse business owners, particularly those with ADHD. Strategies for time management can be enormously helpful—and again, it’s a matter of experimenting to find what works for you individually. Here are a few ideas:
The Pomodoro technique involves breaking time into manageable chunks of time, with a break between each. There is a free online timer you can use for this—many people find it easier to commit to 25 minutes of focused work than a few hours.
Similarly, you can plan your schedule around your attention span and personal rhythms. If you’re more productive in the morning or late at night, move things around to take advantage of that.
Some people have found that something as simple as swapping a digital clock for an analogue one can be helpful, as it physically tracks the passing of time.
Always have a list of things you’d like to get done in preparation for a period of hyperfocus. If you’re on a roll, stay on it as long as possible!
Create your own intermediate deadlines for a larger project, so the big one doesn’t creep up on you.
Always include buffer time in your scheduling for transitions, proofreading, and other extras.
Work to your strengths
Another attribute of neurodivergent people, particularly those with autism, is special interests. With the ability to focus deeply on a particular subject often comes a lot of expertise and knowledge—a great foundation for a business.
If you are considering building a business, leaning into your unique strengths and interests will make things easier and more enjoyable. In fact, many autistic people will find that the self-determination that comes with being a business owner suits them very well. As the business grows, you can outsource aspects of the job that stray too far from what you enjoy. Which brings us to the next point!
Seek targeted help
Anyone running an SME could probably do with a hand! For neurodivergent business owners, there are often specific tasks that they struggle with—and in the age of virtual assistance, it’s fairly easy to seek targeted, customised solutions. VAs and other outsourced types of help can:
Manage scheduling and boost your time management.
Take care of the administrative tasks that send you into executive dysfunction.
Write and edit important correspondence and documents.
Take over your customer calls and communications so you don’t have to worry about constant human interaction.
Manage your bookkeeping and accounts.
Keep your premises clean and tidy.
Market your business for you.
The flexible, adaptable nature of a resource like Released (and our broad service offering) makes it a huge asset to any neurodivergent business owner. We’re real people. Based right here in Aotearoa; you’re not signing up for a generic service, but one that is tailored to you and your unique needs. Our talented VAs can become a seamless part of your business systems, picking up any slack that’s created by the challenges of neurodivergence.
One client, who uses Released’s digital marketing services to promote his business, meets with us monthly for a download session so he can get his ideas out of his head and into the brains of our marketing manager and copywriter
