Asperger’s Experiences & Personal Growth: Stephen’s Evolution

Autistic Insights on Varied Communication Styles in the Workplace

• Stephen McHugh • Episode 42

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What does it truly mean to have "Excellent communication skills" in the workplace, especially from an autistic perspective? Join me, Stephen McHugh, for this episode as I talk about the concept of communication in various job roles. I'll share personal stories about my journey in finding roles that aligned more with my strengths in written communication and task-focused work. These positions allowed me to leverage my attention to detail and precision without the constant pressure of verbal and non-verbal interactions, which can be both demanding and mentally exhausting.

I explore the potential value of diverse communication styles and how they can be recognised and celebrated in the workplace. Listen as I try to advocate for inclusivity and challenge traditional definitions of communication, emphasising that clear and efficient interaction can be more impactful than being the most vocal person in the room. Discover how roles in analytics, content creation, and coding may often suit those who prefer more structured, independent work environments. This episode invites you to consider how varied communication strengths can create a more inclusive environment where everyone can thrive together, and why it can be crucial to ask about communication expectations during interviews to ensure a good fit.

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Thanks for listening. You can find me on my website stephensevolution.com, or on twitter here. You can sign up to receive news of new episodes when they're released here.


Artwork produced by Elena Designe
Music composed by Nela Ruiz

Stephen McHugh:

Hi there and welcome back to another episode of the Stephen's Evolution podcast. I'm Stephen McHugh, your host, and I'm an autistic individual sharing insights, stories and tips based on my lived experiences. I release new episodes every two weeks, diving into different aspects of life and what it's like to live on the autism spectrum. This episode is the third of five, all about autism and the workplace. In each episode, I'm exploring the challenges and strategies that helped me to find roles and work environments that felt like good fits for me.

Stephen McHugh:

In the previous two episodes, I talked about ways in which I avoided job roles that I knew would be more of a struggle for me, and how I learned to work out those tricky and what sounded often like vague terms to me in job descriptions. There is one term that stood out in particular in job descriptions in the past. It is 'excellent communication skills. For this episode, what I'll be doing is aiming to break down what this term really means and how I navigated this expectation with my own unique strengths and challenges when it came to communication. So let's get started into what excellent communication skills can look like when viewed through an autistic mind, when viewed through an autistic mind when it came to communication in the workplace. One thing I noticed over the years was just how much expectations can vary from job to job and depending on the type of role.

Stephen McHugh:

Communication can vary from job to job, and it can be such differences here that can make huge differences in how comfortable or successful someone may feel in a particular position. For instance, the roles that are heavily based on direct interaction, like customer service or phone work. Here, it is in these roles where a big part of these jobs is to be able to pick up on things like voice tones, which can reveal a lot about someone's emotions, most notably how they may be feeling about something. Jobs like these can often expect one to have strong listening skills, require one to maintain eye contact, and an ability to adapt and think quickly about the needs of whoever one may be speaking with. In such roles, there can also often be an emphasis on needing to respect others' emotions and needs in real time. When I think about it, these can be very demanding and mentally exhausting. And of course, this can extend to group interactions and workplace meetings, where one may be expected to read the room and understand all the various social cues going on within a particular group setting.

Stephen McHugh:

On the other hand, there are also other many jobs that will involve more in terms of written communication than spoken communication. In roles like these, the focus can be less on interpreting nonverbal cues and more on conveying information clearly and concisely in writing, where one may have more time to get their thoughts across more cohesively and in an understandable manner. manner might look like exchanging emails, writing reports of various kinds or even sending detailed instructions to co-workers or a company's clients. For someone who's more comfortable with written communication, these roles may seem like a better fit. I find myself nowadays more comfortable with written communication.

Stephen McHugh:

And then there are roles that may require only very little ongoing communication. It can be in these types of jobs, where you may usually be given clear instructions on how to do tasks at the beginning, and left to your own devices to complete them. You might have the options to seek assistance as and when you may feel you need it. However, for the most part, the emphasis is mainly on completing such tasks independently, without regular and constant interaction. The way I see it, these variations show that excellent communication skills can look very different from job to job, and it can depend on what job you're doing. Each role will have its own communication demands that can suit people in a variety of ways.

Stephen McHugh:

In years gone by I've had the opportunities to work in a few different roles that placed very little in terms of complex communication or nonverbal cues. I remember these jobs were mainly highly task-focused, where my main responsibilities were to complete specific, defined tasks, often without the need for extensive interaction with other people. One example is a data entry role I held, where I would enter address information for the post office. This job was all about precision, as the data that I entered would be used to help sorting machines correctly organize mail based on where it was going to go. It was where the communication was straightforward. I would be shown exactly what codes and information to input into the system. There was a strong focus on accuracy and quality. Once I had a much better understanding of the process, I was left to work independently, like the other keyers in there at the time, without the need for ongoing communication.

Stephen McHugh:

Another role I once did was a Data Capture Technician. Here my tasks would indexing, data preparation, scanning and indexing, essentially digitising hard copies of data. This particular role was structured with a clear set of instructions on how to handle each document. There was little need for social interaction or nonverbal communication, and most of the communication, whenever it was done, would be, very briefly, through emails. The information from the hard copies and then matching them up with the correct records, such as the same amounts and company names. As long as I listened attentively to initial instructions, I was trusted to work on my own and focus entirely on completing the tasks as accurately and as efficiently as I could.

Stephen McHugh:

Another example of a role I held was that of a Data Processor in a bank's record centre. This job would involve retrieving records based on queries from customers or bank branches themselves. It often involved handling sensitive or detailed information. Again, there was a lot of focus on accuracy and attention to detail. There would be the requirement to identify and match documents correctly, such as spotting specific amounts. I only needed to ask for help occasionally. This approach suited me well, as I was able to maintain my productivity without constant and regular communication with any other people.

Stephen McHugh:

I was asked to train new staff members once I felt confident enough in my knowledge of the job. Looking back, I saw this as a bit of a stretch for my verbal communication skills, as it required me to explain tasks as clearly as I could, and answer any questions as well as I could and answer any questions as well as I could. But I managed to face this task and do it successfully on a handful of occasions. Despite the fact these moments did push me outside of my usual comfort zone, they were, in a way, good for me to build up my confidence, and improve my verbal communication skills without feeling overwhelmed. Overall, I saw these roles as suitable for me because they minimised the need for extensive verbal or non-verbal communication.

Stephen McHugh:

It was working in these positions where I could really be at my most productive, and be focusing on whatever task I was doing, without the added layer of social interaction or the pressure of having to interpret others' nonverbal cues on a regular basis. They allowed me to work independently, which I found very rewarding. The one thing that really stands out for me from these roles that I did was the straightforward and predictable nature of the communication involved. As I mentioned earlier, my tasks were typically shown to me directly, often with minimal gestures. A supervisor or colleague would point out specific information on a typical document that would be essential for using to try and correctly match it up with a correct record, or indicate the exact fields on a computer screen where I needed to input each corresponding piece of information. It was this type of instruction that I felt was clear and more direct, and what it did was allowed me to focus on whatever task I was doing, rather than having to worry about trying to interpret body language or reading between the lines.

Stephen McHugh:

On a regular basis, in my role as a Data Capture Technician, I would often do smaller tasks for other people from other departments in the same building. Such tasks were simple and specific jobs, and once I completed them, I'd just send them a brief, straightforward email to let them know when their task was done, because these tasks were predictable and the communication was always kind of predictable and direct. These interactions, I found, were manageable and stress-free. I understood exactly what was expected of me, and the people I worked with had clear, concise updates from me. This approach helped me to keep things efficient, and also it helped to avoid any unnecessary back and forth.

Stephen McHugh:

I also remember handling limited phone work in my role of Data Capture Technician. At one point, when I said I wanted to do some phone work, I was given a helpful tip on how to greet outside clients. After practicing, I would find a way to keep the greeting short, clear and concise. Usually it would be a simple, one-sentence introduction. This helped me to keep control of the conversation and avoid feeling overwhelmed. Knowing exactly how to begin each call made it so much easier to handle these interactions with confidence. Sometimes I would deal with inquiries for certain records again. Here it would be the predictable nature of the calls, since I would know how to deal with them, and know it was a common thing for clients to ring up about. For me, what I found was it would be easier to concentrate on what needed to be done without the added stress of having to navigate social nuances. This helped me to be more productive and effective in my work. It gave me the confidence that I was meeting the expectations set for me.

Stephen McHugh:

In the past, when I first came across 'excellent communication skills', I found it easy to imagine someone who was confident in verbal expression, skilled in reading nonverbal cues, and being good at working out voice tones. That's what I used to think. However, over time, what I began to learn was that excellent communication can look very different, since it could vary depending on whatever role, and situation you may have found yourself in. In fact, clear, direct and concise communication can sometimes be just as important, or as effective, or even more so. What I like to compare it to sometimes, well, I like to think of it like being part of a sports team, but thinking about one of those team members who doesn't get the ball often. However, when they do, though, they know exactly what to do and make the most of each opportunity with the ball. They might not be the most vocal player on the team or on the field, or the one involved in the most action. But whenever they're needed, they're precise and efficient. That's how I've come to view my own communication style in many work and team situations in the past.

Stephen McHugh:

One good example that I can think of was during an occasion when I was in a lesson for an Advanced Information Technology course I took. It was during a particular lesson when I would be part of a group project involved in having to get a small mini lift mechanism working. The challenging part of this particular task was getting it to stop at each level it may have been called to. For most of the project, I would sit back and quietly observe what everyone else in the group was doing. I wasn't saying much, but what I was doing was watching and analysing the problem from different angles. Eventually, at one stage, I recognised the issue. We needed the sensors to detect what floor the lift may be at at any given time, and set the motor to zero when it reached the point that it was called to. So I would share this idea with the group I was in, and suggest that we focus on the sensors to make sure that the lift could detect each flaw properly. As it turned out, it was the solution we were looking for, and it helped us to complete the project successfully.

Stephen McHugh:

I didn't speak at length or participate constantly. All I needed to do was just communicate this right idea clearly and efficiently at the right time. For me, looking back, this experience sums up what excellent communication can be, that it doesn't have to be being the most vocal voice in the room or the most engaged in conversation or a group task. Sometimes it can be about taking the time to watch and try and understand the problem more fully, and then offer a clear, effective solution when one believes it really matters.

Stephen McHugh:

In many ways, the way I look at it is, it's a style that can value efficiency and clarity over quantity or volume. What I've found was, over time, it can be just as valuable in the right situations. When it comes to seeking roles that can best match your communication style, especially as someone on the autism spectrum, what I've found is it can really help to research jobs that may best play to one's strengths and communication preferences. I've done some research on this topic and what I found is that if one focuses more on roles where communication styles are more likely to match their needs, they're more likely to feel comfortable and productive in their work.

Stephen McHugh:

From what I found, analytical roles can be one example of a job that may be a strong fit for autistic individuals who have logical minds, and may be skilled at spotting patterns. Roles like these may often involve using logic to try and analyse data and make predictions based on the patterns in the data, with a focus on processing information rather than being involved more in social interactions. This can be a good match for individuals who prefer structured environments and enjoy problem solving.

Stephen McHugh:

Content creation is a role I know first- hand. I've already had experience and still do with my own blog and podcast. For those of us who may enjoy creative writing and writing in general and have confidence in our own written communication skills, this can be an ideal and potentially rewarding path. What content creation does is it gives you the opportunity to think through your ideas in quiet spaces and then share them clearly, effectively and cohesively in writing or recorded formats. What I found is it can be an ideal way to communicate without needing to engage in constant social interaction, and in ways to share what I say on my own terms.

Stephen McHugh:

Roles linked to coding and programming can be ideal roles too. From my understanding, coding is an activity that can suit logical, detail-orientated thinkers. These are qualities that many of us on the spectrum possess. These can be tasks that require more in terms of precision, where one can follow more predictable routines, look for errors in code from maybe having a good eye for detail, detail and being keen on solving problems independently. The repetitive and routine-based nature of coding, the way I look at it, can make it a great option for autistic individuals, who may prefer more in the way of structured tasks.

Stephen McHugh:

Of course, it's also important to think about interviews. When interviewers ask, "Do you have any questions. For me, this can be an opportunity to find out more about communication expectations in a particular role. For example, you might ask if the job relies mainly on written or verbal communication or if there's a lot of group interaction versus independent work. Here, one thing that would worry me was that by asking such questions about communication expectations might make a prospective employer think twice. But what I think is it can be potentially valuable to understand these details up front, these details up front.

Stephen McHugh:

Finally, in looking back on my own work experience, what I found is hybrid communication roles, roles that have straightforward communication with occasional social interactions. This can be a good balance. In some of my past roles, what I had was, time to focus on task-based work with occasional social interactions. This setup gave me just enough variety without making social interaction feel overwhelming. For me, roles like this can allow for some independence, while still offering a bit of social connection, which can make work more balanced and interesting.

Stephen McHugh:

Whenever we may hear excellent communication skills, what I have found is, it can be easy to assume that it can mean someone who may be highly social, a natural talker or someone who can effortlessly read and respond to non-verbal cues. But what I think is it can be worth challenging-size-fits-all skill.

Stephen McHugh:

Communication, I have learned over time can come in a variety of forms, and skills like being straightforward, precise, clear and direct can be just as important or sometimes, in some cases, even more important. It can depend on whatever role you may find yourself in. As I've already shared through my own personal experiences, these qualities have often been my own strengths. Rather than simply trying to fit myself into a traditional definition of communication, what I have found is, certain ways to try and lean on my strengths to succeed in different work environments. For example, when I wanted to limit my phone work to handling messages and responding to straightforward inquiries beforehand, I shared my concerns with my employers. They were open to the idea of me doing these tasks before I undertook them. They would give me guidance and show me steps I needed to take. With their support that they gave me, I was able to handle those tasks satisfactorily. After I had done a few, I actually had looked back at them and thought they were more manageable than I had actually expected. It was this small adjustment that gave me a chance to build my confidence in my communication skills in ways that felt comfortable, manageable and doable.

Stephen McHugh:

So what I'd like to do here is, take this opportunity to encourage workplaces to try and recognise and value different communication strengths and styles, and understand that not everyone needs to fit into the same communication mould. Flexibility in terms of how communication expectations may be set and applied can, I believe, make workplaces more inclusive, thus creating work environments for all kinds of communicators to thrive.

Stephen McHugh:

To wrap up, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Have you had similar experiences with communication styles in places where you have worked? Do you have examples of how flexibility in communications expectations may have helped you succeed? Or, if you're an employer, what adaptations have you made to help a variety of communications thrive in your work environments? Share your experiences with me. I'd really enjoy to hear about them. If you want to share them, you can do so by texting the podcast, by following the link in the episode description on buzzsprout, https://stephensevolution. buzzsprout. com.

Stephen McHugh:

And if you'd like to stay updated on new episodes and podcast news, you can subscribe through the Stay in the Loop link towards the footer of the homepage of my website, https://www. stephensevolution. com. There you'll be taken to a form where you can fill in your details. And, if you've made it this far, thank you so much for joining me on this episode. In the meantime, take care, and I'll see you in the next episode, when I'll be talking about my tips for strategies involving interviews.