Today after almost being done with my second Friday on my new job I took some time and looked back at the many different working environments I been in the past and how these affected me.
People often describe a 'Positive Work Environment' by using simple words, common ones like are fun, recognition for their effort, motivation, opportunities to grow and engagement. And while all of these words represent a positive place for people to thrive in, many don't realize that words such as respect, inclusion and equal opportunities should be the first words that should always come to mind.
As a neurodivergent person I have lived all kinds of work environments and it is truly amazing what a good or toxic environment can mean to me. I have found places where all was painted in wonderful colors which promised inclusion, equality, good work and life balance and while this remained true for a couple weeks and even months sometimes, these bright colors slowly started fading and with them the motivation to continue working effectively.
One of the key factors that influence how neurodivergent people work is knowing there is a difference in the way we interpret the world and what happens around us. And what does this mean exactly? It means of all the neurodivergent people I have met and shared experiences with around 95% of them have the logic I have had for years...
Since we are different we need to always give 110% at our jobs so people won't notice we are not the same as them.
A lot of amazing actors, scientists, innovators, have reached the pinnacle of their careers and even received awards that distinguished them among others. And now you are probably thinking why is that?... The fact we perceive the world differently also comes with the amazing gift of natural intelligence. It doesn't necessarily means you get straight A's in school or graduated from University with honors. It means we can handle situations differently, come up with new ideas and be more approachable than others (this varies if you don't know how or can navigate your way around people). We are unique and as much as many feel this is something that makes us less capable it is a wrong assumption.
People feel having a difference in the way they think and function, is like a bad trait that people will discover if they are not careful. In my personal case, I can tell you I have worked weekends, stayed until 1 AM at the office only to start at 6 AM sharp to work the next day. These events were almost never paid for or even recognized, but that extra commitment was key for me to feel I mattered. Meaning I was so worried about failing that I overworked myself over the years. This, as I mentioned, has happened to a lot of my colleagues and the way you hear them remember old jobs or the one they are currently at is truly discouraging. We don't realize we don't need to make up for anything and being neurodivergent is actually an amazing trait to have.
Companies offer all these amazing benefits like extra vacation days, your birthday day off and even bonuses. But, as the years pass you learn a very valuable lesson... money is not everything. You might have a good salary, good benefits and a friendly team, but if they don't really support your ideas, ignore your attempts to contribute to the team no matter what your role is, and the idea of growing within inside the company is a promise and nothing more you become like candle, with a slowly extinguishing flame. The moment you wake up in the morning and the first thing you think is... the work you 'HAVE' to do and not want to do then a toxic environment is behind it.
People might smile at you, HR might promise an amazing event to give back to the community and your boss can tell you: 'you are doing fine'. But, what does it all matter when you lack time to even join or when you bring new ideas and people don't listen, this is exactly what makes people lose faith in the company or organization they work with.
Today as I look back as these past two weeks I can tell you there are still some companies that promise a positive work environment and you see signs of it from the very first days.
I had a meeting with my new boss last Thursday where he wanted to hear how I felt the first week, if I needed help, if I needed more tools to work and most importantly he emphasized work was only 8 hours a day, anything that was not done that day could be done the next. I was really surprised! Since its been so many years since I had someone actually sit down and truly practice active listening.
While I still remember amazing friends and contacts from previous jobs I realized the culture affected me so much... I would end up parking the car and just crying before I enter the building and start working, crying over the breaks, lose appetite and just feel miserable those 8 hours I had to work. This ultimately made me so ill mentally and physically I had to quit to be able to take some time off and get back on my feet. So, today after 11 years of experience and so many experiences, good and bad, I have faced I want to tell you something important:
Money is not the answer, nor is the fact that the company is super famous and you should feel lucky to be part of it... The answer is phrased as: "how do you feel?"... "How was this past week?"... "Do you need help?"... "Do you have everything you need to do your job?" and most importantly remember you should always be your main priority.