Managing a Diverse Team

 

Hello everyone,

This time I will share with you the wonderful story of Lucas, with the aim of identifying some strategies to manage diverse teams in a global business environment: 

Calling, T. [@TrueCallingMedia]. (2022, August 3). Autism in the workplace: Lucas’ story. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-StzjHwsXI

Autism in the Workplace:

Lucas's Story

Lucas is a 17-year-old high school student who identifies as an autistic individual. In this interview, he explains the difficulties he has in relating to people, how his unique view of the world is like a camera lens that can be wide or narrow, and his experience as a worker at Meridian Meats & Seafood.

In this video, Lucas shares his experience working at Meridian Meats and the difficulties he faces there as an autistic person. Lucas emphasizes how much he enjoys working with his coworkers and the help that Meridian Meats has given him as an autistic person. 

In this video we can highlight the importance of supported employment, focused on helping people with disabilities, including autism, prepare for and maintain competitive paid employment. In this case, we can see the active participation of Cameron, Lucas' employment advisor from the Inclusion Langley Society, who plays an important role and has a valuable support system that helps Lucas with tasks and interactions with colleagues and clients.

The Meridian Meats store manager also talks about his commitment to inclusion, aiming to fully integrate autistic employees into the workforce. Lucas then explains how his work at Meridian Meats helped him overcome social anxiety and provided opportunities for his personal growth.

Lucas emphasizes at the end of the video that he thinks autism should not be a barrier to employment and that it offers the world a special viewpoint, variety, change, and innovation.

Strategies for managing a diverse team 

The following are some strategies I can suggest to help people like Lucas to overcome some challenges that they may have in the workplace.

• To assist Lucas in navigating his social challenges, give him clear directions and expectations as well as regular checks and feedback. We can reduce confusion and anxiety by using structured communication to help you comprehend his jobs and responsibilities.
• To conduct autism awareness training to raise their colleagues' awareness of autism and promote understanding, empathy, and inclusion. Educating about autism and its characteristics can help create a supportive and inclusive work culture.
• To offer career counseling or support through an employment specialist, like Cameron, as doing so can be helpful in assisting people with autism in overcoming problems at work. They can develop their social skills, handle stress and anxiety, and comprehend the implicit norms of the workplace with the support of ongoing training. This support can contribute to your job satisfaction and overall performance.

• To help Lucas feel accepted and valued by fostering a culture that values ​​diversity and respects many points of view, which has a beneficial effect on his motivation, happiness at work, and overall mental health.
• To identify specific accommodations that Lucas may need to perform his job effectively. How to provide a quieter workspace or minimize sensory stimuli, or provide flexible hours tailored to your individual needs.

I hope that Lucas's story has inspired you as much as I have and that this post can be helpful for your future experiences in managing diverse teams in a positive way in your workplace.

Georgina