Episode 17 - Summer Myth #1: You’re Not Bad at Communication

In this first episode of the SEND IT Summer Series, Claire tackles the myth that “neurodivergent people are bad at communication.” She explores how ND communication isn’t a deficit — it’s a different communication culture built on clarity, honesty, and directness. Claire shares her own experience of being told she was “too blunt” and the impact of shrinking herself to fit neurotypical expectations, noting: “I got smaller, I talked less, until I didn’t recognise myself.”

The episode breaks down the science behind communication differences, why workplaces often mislabel ND communication as “bad,” and how miscommunication is usually a mismatch — not a failure. Claire offers practical reframes, including sharing preferences openly (like adding them to a Teams status: “I have included this on my Teams status at work.”).

Listeners are invited to notice one moment this week where they communicated clearly in their own way — and celebrate it. A short, warm, myth‑busting episode reminding us that difference isn’t a deficit, and ND communication is brilliant, valid, and worth recognising.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:14

Hi, I'm Claire, and this is Sendic Brains at Work. Welcome to our summer series. So, because the school holidays um are upon us, Steph and I are recording shorter solo episodes. We're looking at little bit um bite-sized myth busters to help us keep our sanity and to keep you company. So remember, if you like what you hear, please please share the podcast, like it on your chosen platform, or leave us a review. These are just a few of the free things that you can do, but they help us um reach other people that might benefit from our ramblings. Okay, so let's get stuck in because today's myth hits really close to home for me. We're looking at the myth that neurodivergent people are bad at communicating. This is something I've been told before. I'm too blunt, I'm too direct. Um, and as a result of being told all of these things, I started to believe it. So I got smaller and I talked less until I didn't really recognise myself anymore. And I know that many of you have felt that too, shrinking yourself to fit a communication style that wasn't built for you. But here's the truth neurodivergent communication is often clearer, it's more direct, it's more honest, and in all honesty, it's more efficient. It just doesn't always match neurotypical expectations. It turns out the issue isn't actually the communication, it's the translation. So let's look at the science bit. Neurotypical communication often leans on implied meaning. Um it's an implied tone, there's indirectness, and there's social cues. Then you look at your neurodivergent communication, and often that leans on clarity, precision, directness, and authenticity. Neither is superior, they're simply different communication stars. So a really practical example is it's like speaking English to someone who speaks French. You're both great communicators, you just need um you need a shared language, not a personality transplant. So workplace places often treat neurotypical communication as a default. Anything outside that default um that default gets labelled bad, even when it's actually clearer or more efficient. Miscommunication is usually a mismatch, it's not a failure, and it's this um mismatch that's actually flex um fixable. So we just need to stop blaming the communicator. It's not that neurodivergent people can't communicate, it's that the environment isn't built for multiple styles. So I want to do some reframing of your communication because your communication is valid, your communication style isn't flawed, it brings honesty, it brings clarity, logic, and creativity. So when you're working with someone, ask them what their communication preference is. Do they want headlines or do they want detail, do they want direct or do they want gentle? And tell people on the flip side how you prefer to be communicated with. So on my Teams, so on Teams you have a status. On my status, I've included how I prefer to be communicated with, so people can immediately see it when they're on a Teams call with me or when they're writing a message. It's uh a tiny adjustment, but actually it helps that collaboration and it makes it smoother for everyone because we already know um from the outset how we want that communication bit to be. It's not about you changing yourself, it's about how you collaborate and you work with other people. So I've got a challenge for you this week. I want you to notice a moment where you've communicated clearly on in your own way, on your own terms. Screenshot it or jot it down, or just mentally give yourself a high five. Your communication isn't broken, it's brilliant, and it deserves to be recognized. Remember, difference isn't a deficit, it's diversity, and your voice belongs here. So thanks for listening to Send It Brains at Work and thank you for joining us on our summer series.

SPEAKER_00 5:32

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