In a recent session with an HR partner, we explored what successful onboarding looks like for their neurodivergent employees.
As my brain sometimes makes quirky connections and patterns, I made the obvious leap to gardening!
I use gardening as an analogy in my therapy practice; we think about the nurturing of seeds over time, the removal of weeds (a life-long process!) and the (im)patient waiting for the garden to mature.
Fast paced businesses may liken their onboarding processes to annual blooms. These plants grow quickly and bring instant colour and results. In contrast, biennials spend their first year quietly developing strong roots. They might not flower immediately, but when they do, they bloom with a lasting impact.
Neurodivergent hires are like biennials. They may need more time to get established, to build trust, feel safe and to learn the ropes (because sometimes your processes are not suited to their brain wiring which is akin to trying to read instructions in a foreign language). But once they’re rooted, they bring extraordinary value through their heightened pattern recognition, problem-solving, creativity and innovation.
Of course, in fast-paced industries ‘time is money’ and ‘time waits for no one’.
Are we too focused on immediate blooms and overlooking the lasting impact of well-established talent? What if the extra time invested now leads to exponential benefits later?
It’s not just about speed. It’s about sustainability and unlocking potential. Plant the seeds with patience, nurture them with the right support, and watch them flourish.
Are your onboarding processes suited to those instant results/short lived annuals or to the 'longer to establish' biennials? Isn’t the ideal workplace a mix of all plants so that you can benefit from the full variety of diversity which enables your workplace to thrive?