Trying to do everything can be a struggle. But having the right support can make all the difference.
I’ve been an entrepreneur for over 12 years and have had multiple businesses and teams during this process.
But it wasn’t until my autism and ADHD diagnosis where I was able to reflect on what has and hasn’t worked for me.
It’s been quite the journey and if you’re a neurodivergent business owner/ entrepreneur trying to navigate a support team,
I want to share with you my 3 key elements to think about what’s right for you:
1. Identify your strengths and support needs
First, focus on your strengths and skills. What do you excel at? What tasks do you find motivating, easy or enjoyable? These are the areas where you should direct your time and energy.
Secondly, think about any short falls. What are the things you find frustrating or difficult? Once you have a clear understanding of skills and tasks that may not come naturally to you, then these are areas where you should seek support.
Think of this as an opportunity to bring in other people who can shine in these roles and add value to your business.
2. Finding the right support
This can be a trial-and-error process, much like trying on hats to find the perfect fit. I’ve worked with various support professionals over the years, from accountants to social media professionals and when you bring support into your business, you need to consider the type of people you want to work with.
Ask yourself – What do you need from them? What values do you want to align with them on?
Yes, it can be nice matching a personality – but it’s ultimately your business values that you are looking to match with.
This approach ensures the support you get is tailored to your business needs.
3. Communicate your needs
Ok, so you’ve hired the right people – great! You now need to express what support you need and make it clear what is going to make your life easier.
For example, my brain struggles with spreadsheets. Previously, every time a bookkeeper or accountant would send me a spreadsheet or list of data, my brain would scramble and shut down.
But the accountant I have now is incredible! We have a great system tailored to my needs where I am able to drip-feed information to her and we have monthly calls to check in.
She’s really listened to how my brain processes information – and now – I never have to see another spreadsheet!
It’s given me confidence, because I know my bookkeeping is taken care of.
So remember you have control! – by clearly communicating the things you find difficult you can ask for alternative methods of working.
This way, you avoid the frustration of support that doesn’t actually support you.
If you’ve found these 3 strategies helpful I’d love to connect! feel free to reach out to me via socials @autisticjoyologist / Nikki Butler – The Autistic Joyologist | Facebook or email [email protected]
Nikki
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