Is Western culture making it harder for neurodivergent thinkers to understand?

In her excellent book “the culture map” Erin Meyer identifies 8 scales that help map out how we can be dramatically different in different cultures. The 8 scales are:

• Communicating
• Evaluating
• Persuading
• Leading
• Deciding
• Trusting
• Disagreeing
• Scheduling

Some cultural differences can make it easier for a neurodivergent brain to process and function and others create confusion, resistance and frustration.

For example with communication, in Japan communication is based on assumed shared perspective and understanding, sophisticated, layered, implied, rarely explicit and repetition is inappropriate and considered patronising.

In the Netherlands good communication is clear, precise, taken a face value and repetition is acceptable and appreciated.

Most autistic people take language literally (try using idioms such as “a different kettle of fish” with an autistic thinker and you’ll see them stall while they process…what kind of kettle, what kind of fish and why are there fish in a kettle).

To make everyone’s lives easier try to move beyond cultural habits:

• Be clear, concise, give deadlines that you actually mean (if you want it by Friday at 3.00pm don’t say by the end of the week).
• Instead of a quick chat, give information in writing, via email or text to allow people time to process, re-visit and check for clarity.
• Give feedback sensitively yet precisely, with evidence and examples and end on a positive. (Neurodivergent people have spent a whole lifetime trying to make their brain fit into a neurotypical world and may have difficulty remembering what they do well and overthinking what they don’t).
• Hierarchy is a social construct, that so often doesn’t resonate with a neurodivergent thinker. Don’t be offended if your new starter speaks directly to the MD to question processes that seems counterproductive. The MD could do well to listen!

Things to think about:

• The meaning of your communication is the response you get. If someone isn’t getting what you mean, try a different approach (rather than just repeating yourself a bit louder).
• Ask questions - ask if a person needs a particular form of communication, maybe they can understand a process better with a process map instead of being shown.
• All behaviour is communication. If someone isn’t doing what you’ve asked them to, then they haven’t understood what you meant (most people are not trying to annoy you), try a different approach or ask someone else to explain it differently.