HACKER Q&A
📣 TimTheTinker

Leadership resources for individuals on the autism spectrum?


I've heard it said that a large proportion of developers are on the autism/Aspergers spectrum. I've been a developer for 13 years, and I'm on the spectrum myself.

I want to move into a leadership role at some point, and I'm sure others in my shoes would like to as well. But as you can imagine, a lot of the skills required for leadership aren't areas of natural strength for us -- social interactions, communicating, understanding others, etc. However, I'm confident that we can learn to communicate well if someone who knows our limitations can sort of "descend to our level" or "explain like I'm five", so to speak. We are smart; we just think differently.

Do you have any resource suggestions on leadership (books, videos, blogs, etc.), but oriented towards folks on the spectrum?


  👤 hos234 Accepted Answer ✓
I have had experience with someone who wanted to do this and it didn't go well. A subject matter expert wanted to be team leader because that's what he thought career progress was. Within a few weeks the team collapsed.

Creativity, unconventional thinking, hyperfocus etc is required as support to conventional leaders more than in being leaders. It's not just about improving communication. You have to be much more social, political, be good at handling stress, people have to want to work for you etc and you have to do it competing against experienced people for who that stuff is natural.

The way ahead maybe to think up a role that fits your strengths and then pitch it to higher ups, more than trying to fit into roles that are conventional. Just remember that conventional roles haven't been designed with your strengths in mind.


👤 chupa-chups
Since leadership requires lots of human <-> human interactions, involving empathy and other illogical behaviors, are you sure this is the role you should seek?

This is an honest question. Suppose someone with not-so-good skills in arts wants to pursue a career as an artist, s/he would have quite a steep learning curve ahead.

Speaking as someone on the autism spectrum (though I don't like to identify myself this way) having leadership experience, my personal life improved after I was able to detach myself from people management.

There are lots of career paths available which skip people management.


👤 erikbrodch
I write about autism and employment https://www.spectroomz.com/ and very interested in the domain (would love to talk about this specific topic of moving to leadership)