When Emily first joined the Neurodiversity Strategy Coaching Programme, she had just moved teams and was on a performance improvement plan. She was struggling, but didn’t necessarily know why. She needed support, felt rubbish about herself, didn’t feel she was being given the support she needed.

During the course of the coaching delivered by Neurodiversity Coach, Jen Smollett, Emily learnt how to advocate for herself in a way that is constructive and equal (there are things she can do as well as others to help). She learnt how to work with her ADHD rather than against it and how to make use of the strengths and positive attributes she has whilst minimising the impact of the negative traits.

Emily feels she is in control of this, rather than feeling her ADHD is in control of her. What’s more, she is no longer on a performance improvement plan and has made such a turn around that she has been promoted! Now has the support she needs and knows how to ask for that again if she needs it, whilst knowing how to communicate this in an objective way. She is able to identify what is challenging for her, and is able to work out why she is struggling, which externalises the problem. This helps her to avoid the negative self talk that often held her back. Emily feels a lot calmer, and a lot more in control. She feels like she is the person “driving her bus”. She feels a quiet sense of confidence in her abilities, that even if other people were to not recognise that, she knows she’s doing the best she can.

Emily said: “It’s been really nice that I’ve been given the space to find my own solutions, but in a way that has been guided. My Coach’s support and suggestions are a safety net during the sessions. It felt okay for me to not know something, and didn’t feel pushed past what I am capable of. I have really enjoyed coaching and feel I got a lot out of it because I was willing to commit to it, share and be open about how I felt”

Emily will continue working on the things outlined in the coaching sessions. She will keep the tools identified in her back pocket, and also continue to move herself forward, using the tools flexibly as needed to push forward.

This case study is one of many Good News Stories how our Neurodiversity Coaches support participants on Neurodiversity Strategy Coaching Programme which delivers high quality coping strategy coaching, training and mentoring to adults with Neuro-Diverse conditions and other disabilities/long term health conditions at work. The service is person-centred delivering strategy coaching support tailored to the individual customer’s work-related needs. For further information or support, please contact info@3sc.org