This book focuses on coaching neurodivergent individuals about their experiences at work. The introduction states that the book supports existing coaching practitioners, managers and community leaders to understand the essentials of neurodivergence, a term that encompasses ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia and Tourette’s syndrome, and how these diagnoses require specific coaching approaches to support individuals to thrive at work.
Part 1 of the book provides an introduction to neurodiversity, typical topics in neurodiversity coaching, and harnessing neurodivergent potential in coaching. Part 2 covers coaching techniques as principles, while part 3 explores the context of coaching.
I guess I had really high expectations for the book based on the title (and the cost!), but I finished it feeling a little disappointed. The book has some interesting case studies of work the coaches did with neurodivergent clients. However, I felt that the section on coaching techniques presented a range of approaches that are not necessarily specifically useful for neurodivergent clients, although they may have been useful for certain individuals at various times. I also found the book had trouble navigating between overgeneralising, while also frequently pointing out that every neurodivergent person is unique.
We really need much more work in this space, and particularly written by coaches and coaches with lived experience of neurodivergence and coaching.
