It seems like everyone is worried about the economy right now. And for adults with Asperger’s, career problems can be especially challenging. But the opportunity arises in times of change, and you can use Asperger’s benefits to further your career and ensure future job security.

Asperger syndrome is a condition that carries both strengths and weaknesses. The key to professional success is knowing your own strengths and weaknesses and using them to your advantage. What are some of Asperger’s strengths? In many cases, people with Asperger’s are logical, technically competent, straightforward, hard-working, trustworthy, and honest. All the features needed by today’s most streamlined and cost-conscious businesses!

What about the challenges of Asperger syndrome? According to Tony Attwood, in The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome (2007, Jessica Kingsley Publishers), adults with Asperger’s may have difficulties, among other things, with teamwork, managing others, organizing, conflict and coping. change. In this article, I give some tips on how to minimize teamwork challenges by emphasizing your strengths. Look for future articles on other challenges.

Challenge: teamwork problems

Suppose you have been assigned a group project and it is not going well. Think about the team’s goal here. The point is to get the job done. This is what you’re good at! Focus your energy on completing the job, even if it means doing more than your share, or trying other people’s ideas, even when you know yours are better.

While it may appear that the team is not being fair or that others are not doing their part, it is seldom worth going to complain to management. They have bigger problems right now, and their boss probably hopes the project gets done without spending management resources on it. Make it your goal to be part of a winning team. Trust that management will eventually figure out who is doing the work and who is simply getting carried away by the efforts of others. Your Asperger’s strengths give you a huge advantage here. Focus on the job and leave the political maneuvering to the people who aren’t doing their part. Your company cannot afford to bear dead weight, so you will pay attention to the results and who achieved them.

Coaching for Asperger’s Council for Teamwork:

Complaining about your teammates can cause them to label you a crybaby or a troublemaker. Adults with Asperger’s have a hard time reading social cues, so it’s worth getting an unbiased opinion from someone else. Make a pact with yourself that you will always get a second opinion before discussing your group’s problems with anyone else in the office. Don’t complain to your boss without a second opinion!

Who to ask Someone you can completely trust, preferably outside of the company, such as a spouse, close friend, former colleague, or mentor. State what’s going on, ask your advisor’s opinion on people’s problems specifically, and listen to that opinion. Social skills are not your strength, so you seek advice. If you are not sure who to trust, you might consider hiring a coach who is not part of the company and who will be ethically bound to keep your conversation confidential.