Finding a Dyslexic Approach to Career Planning Charles Freeman [email protected] Dyslexic Success UK - - equipping diverse

Dyslexic Success UK - http://celebratedhub.org - equipping diverse learners

Finding a Dyslexic Approach to Career Planning

Charles [email protected]

04/08/2015


Part 1

Introduction

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About this Workshop • This workshop is an experiment

• The aim is to test my belief that dyslexic / neuro diverse people need to employ different tactics from non-dyslexic people when planning their career – Indeed they need to be better at and more proactive.

• To explore the topic I will try to identify some game theory scenarios which model the career planning process

• I will also want your feed back and ideas

• The codpast has just done excellent guide to graduate job hunting • http://www.thecodpast.org/2015/06/dyslexia-in-the-workplace/a-graduat

es-guide-to-effective-job-hunting-part-1/04/08/2015

http://www.thecodpast.org/2015/06/dyslexia-in-the-workplace/a-graduates-guide-to-effective-job-hunting-part-1/

http://www.thecodpast.org/2015/06/dyslexia-in-the-workplace/a-graduates-guide-to-effective-job-hunting-part-1/


Exercise 1 - 2 Mins each• Work in Groups of 2

• Introduce yourselves

• Each member of the group describe to your partner a work task you have done well

• Explain how you knew you had been successful

• Switch over so the other member of the group has a chance to describe their experiences

• Please feedback your partners experience to the group

• Adapted from Penny Aston Grooops 8Ds of Dyslexic Wellbeing

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Puzzle 1Majority Minority

Right Hand 5 Points 3 Points

Left Hand 4 Points 2 Points

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Puzzle 2Majority Minority

Right Hand 2 5

Left Hand 3 4

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Part 2

What do dyslexics do in the work place

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Exercise 2• Describe to your partners 3 things you hope to get out of a job. (EG

Income, Security, Friendship)

• Describe 3 things that you bring to a job which are of value to an employer

• What is the average length of time you have spent in a job (not your own business). Please also say how long self employed or running business

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My Guesses

• Dyslexics often find it hard to separate work from rest of life – (Idea of working 5 days a week to live at weekends hard for dyslexics).

• Dyslexics need to be passionate about their job work needs to matter. (I have never found it easy to see it as just a Job but that may be just me).

• Dyslexics spend less than average amount of time in a job than the neuro-typical average 4-5 years.

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Dyslexics can do anythingBut more tend to somethings rather than other things

http://dyslexic-kids.tumblr.com/

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How are Dyslexics Employed

Self Employed Unemployed Employed Not In Labforce 0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

% Total % Dyslexic

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Dyslexics are over represented amongst entrepreneurs and under represented in middle

management

Dyslexic Non Dyslexic Comment

Total Population 10% 90% 4% severely Dyslexic

Owner Managers 19% 81% Julie Logan

Employed Managers

5% 95% Julie Logan

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Dyslexics may have the skills to fill senior roles but struggle in Junior Positions

Skills needed first job / internship• Making Tea /Coffee• Meeting and greeting • Being tidy and organised• Taking notes at meetings • Filing

Neuro- Diverse Weaknesses• Clumsy when making tea/ coffee • Awkward when first meeting people• Untidy appear disorganised• Bad at taking meeting notes / record

keeping . • Bad short term memory forget to file

stuff

Skills needed in a senior role • Development of strategy• Innovation and creativity• Problem Solving and Analysis• Good Communication Skills• Good at using contacts• Good Delegation Skills • Good at team building and leadership

Neuro-Diverse Strengths • Skilled in strategy development• Different perceptions frequently

viewed as creative• Good at networking and

communication skills• Good at delegation and team

assembly ?

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Exercise 3

• Do you think your job is in a sector where dyslexics are over or under represented

• How did you get your job

• How have you tried to shape your job so it suits your strengths and weaknesses

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My guess at sectors with over and under representation of Dyslexics

Sectors where dyslexics over represented

• Creative Industries• Engineering• Construction• IT ?• Sales / (Marketing ?)• Caring Professions• Land Based Industries• Sport coaching and

development• Catering• Science ?

Dyslexics under represented

• Law and Accountancy• Medicine (Doctors, Surgeons

and Vets) • Administration / Middle

Management• HR• Civil Service and Public

Administration • Translators and Linguists• Teaching• Data Analysis ?

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Employment by sector (ONS Growth Dashboard 2015)

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More Guesses

• Dyslexics proportionately are more likely get jobs by networking word of mouth etc , rather than formal application.

• Dyslexics need are frequently very successful at shaping their job to fit their talent – But this requires confidence and assertiveness.

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Part 3

Round holes and Square Pegs

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Businesses change by managing risk –They take one small step at a time.

Adapted from Richard Dawkins Climbing Mount improbable

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Typical Dyslexic Profile Leonie Campbell-Dyslexic Teams

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Diversity makes business more productiveTerms of trade analogy.

Janet 1 day work

combined total

Janet specialise in Iron

Combined total

Everyone is better off

John 1 day work ,

6 Iron 3 Cakes

John Specialises in Cake

6 Iron 4 Cakes

When both Janet and John Specialise

.

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Positive Dyslexia – Professor Rod Nicholson

• Many of the Skills Employers most want e.g.

– Persistence – Creativity– Problems Solving

Are skills which many dyslexic people have

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How many dyslexics should you have in a teamLeonie Campbell-Dyslexic Teams

• Myer Briggs

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When recruiting businesses wantAdapted from civil service fair selection training

• People who they are sure can do the job, not always the best person for the job.

• People who will fit in to teams, and compliment existing skills, rather than replicate those skills.

• People who are adaptable and flexible. So that the company can mould employees to fit its requirements, rather than people who have their way of working and have become rigid.

• Reducing risk is more important than identifying star performers.

• Job specifications and person profiles are designed to identify a cog in a machine rather than people who will challenge how the machine works

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Exercise 5

• Give an example of a time when you feel have worked to make your self less of a risk to your employer

• Give an example of how you have used your strengths to get a result for a team in which you have worked

• Describe how you feel about using each tactic04/08/2015


Be aware dyslexia has a dark side from an employers perspective (and its not only about

reading and writing)Risks

• Untidy appear disorganised

• Get frustrated doing boring tasks / get upset when left out of decision making.

• Talk to too much at meetings, red herrings, DVD

• Appear nervous not confident around colleagues

Mitigation• Work on organisation skills

• Take responsibility for own wellbeing- don’t unload on employer

• Be self-aware

• Consider being coached or mentored.

• Know your subject be ahead of the game, and keep learning.

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Part 4

• Developing tactics to achieve your goals

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Puzzle 3Adapted from Professor Martin Hollis The Enlightenment Trail

• Janet and Johns Pub Crawl

The Michael Gove (1,0)

The Ladybird 0,2

The Moderation 3,1

The sensible choice 2,4

The creative challenge 5,3

The cats whiskers 4,5

Janet

John

Janet

John

Janet

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Exercise 6 part 1

• How do you change the game so you end up at the Cats Whiskers or Creative Challenge not the Michael Gove or The Ladybird

• What tactics can be used to help you as a dyslexic build a successful career

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My GuessesThings you can do

• Follow your interests- you are likely to be more successful doing something you like, or are passionate about.

• Develop Weapons – You are more likely to be employed for being good at something, than for not having weaknesses.

• Take ownership of your Self Development and Wellbeing- Consider -Coaching , mentoring, and counselling .Have a method to off-load outside of work and family.

•

Things to be aware of• Safe and sensible is dangerous –Lots

of people will be better at being average than a dyslexic

• Confidence is key – if you are in the zone and not conscious of being dyslexic you are likely to be succeeding.

• Dyslexics can often be found – At the cutting edge,– In areas of obscure specialism, – In industries which have not been

codified.– Where innovation is at a

premium.04/08/2015


Don’t forget being successful at work is not everything, balance is essential.

Pennie Aston 8 Ds of Dyslexic Wellbeing & Eliminating Limiting Beliefs

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Go out an excel!!!

• For additional support visit celebratedhub.or/blog

• Contact Charles Freeman via [email protected]

Dyslexic Success – Why Cope? When you can excel!

04/08/2015 Dyslexic Success UK - http://celebratedhub.org - equipping diverse learners

Documents

Finding a Dyslexic Approach to Career Planning Charles Freeman [email protected] Dyslexic Success UK - - equipping diverse