Say It Skillfully® – Re-languaging, Outcast?, Working w/ Autism

Say It Skillfully® is a show that helps you to benefit from Molly Tschang’s expert guidance on the best possible ways to speak your mind at work in a positive and productive manner. In Episode 132, Molly is joined first by Eric, who shares two fascinating projects that confront our use of language! They talk about not so subtle shifts in words that help teams design how they work with sharp focus on “the whole” vs. individuals doing (or not doing) their work. He shares work at NYU in “re-languaging” the category known as prison literature, and the imperative to see the writing itself, not from where it’s been written! Next, Cindy opens up about a painful experience in which she feels she spoke up about what wasn’t working in the department, but in a way that did not reflect well on her. Cindy and Molly discuss the need and power to surface people’s different experiences with the intention to help the group be better vs. come across as self-interested (17:45). Finally, Chris displays courage and vulnerability in sharing his autism and the numerous struggles he and those like him face in fulfilling their potential in the workplace. So often, he has the experience of “feeling like everyone else got the memo, except me.” And he shares the lack of “auto-pilot” to interpret social interactions, and the challenge in interviewing when asked what seems a very general question, “tell me about yourself…” Chris and Molly talk about self-assuredness and sharing the positive, vs. disabling, aspects of autism and his vital role in educating those unfamiliar with it (38:05). Don’t miss rich dialogue and learn how to navigate work while being invaluable and true to yourself. Molly’s thought for the week: Trust the goodness in yourself and the goodness in those around you. That’s the ultimate show of confidence. —Jeff Warren More ways to help you #sayitskillfully! * How to be heard at work https://bit.ly/2UXFyBl * All my videos by category here: https://sayitskillfully.com