When was the last time you feltyour brain was your superpower?
Dyslexia is a neurological condition that can affect a person’s ability to read, write and spell. And while it undoubtedly poses some unique challenges, by reframing our preconceptions it can quickly become a formidable superpower.
In conversation with The Alliance of Independent Agencies during their workshop tackling misconceptions of dyslexia in the workforce, I was inspired to hear a guest speaker and Managing Partner of React, Pamela Uddin, describe dyslexia as her superpower. Sharing her experiences as someone with dyslexia in the workforce and her suggestions on reframing behaviours and mindsets was deeply impactful.
This got me thinking, what really is the science behind dyslexia and its impact on the workforce? But first, let’s delve into what dyslexia truly is and the scientific insights that underpin it.
Dyslexia is not a matter of intelligence, it’s simply a different way of processing information.
Our brains process information in two hemispheres. The right controlling attention, memory, reasoning and problem-solving. While the left governs language, number skills and speech.
Brain imaging techniques reveal that individuals with dyslexia often exhibit distinct neural patterns, highlighting their reliance on the right side of the brain. In contrast, those without dyslexia typically rely more on the left side, which results in a more linear thinking pattern. In essence, those with dyslexia tend to be more “right-brained” favouring a conceptual approach to thinking.
So it stands to reason that one of the celebrated superpowers of dyslexia is heightened creativity. As the right side of the brain is predominantly responsible for creativity and holistic thinking, this allows for out-of-the-box thinking, innovative problem solving and the ability to connect seemingly unrelated ideas – all essential elements of creativity.
Dyslexia also allows for so many more advantages such as:
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Visual skills
- Problem-solving
- Heightened empathy
- Big picture thinking
As natural big-picture thinkers and do-ers, people with dyslexia may not have the most conventional solutions to problem-solving, but their unique skill set gives them the ability to see how all the components work strategically. This is in part due to them typically understanding the world through images and concepts rather than words alone, making them masters at spotting patterns and connections.
For workforces to harness the power of dyslexia we need to start viewing dyslexia as a superpower rather than a limitation. To get the most out of the incredible potential of dyslexia we need to foster an environment of innovation and creativity whilst championing a diverse and blended workforce.