Dyslexia doesn’t block leadership—it can enhance it. Many dyslexic professionals bring strong visual thinking, empathy and inventive problem-solving. With the right systems, those strengths become everyday leadership habits.
What Dyslexia Looks Like at Work
- Slower reading speed and heavier effort processing dense text.
- Occasional spelling/grammar slips, especially under time pressure.
- Note-taking and sequential organisation can be harder in fast meetings.
- Multi-step instructions and time estimates may need extra structure.
These are differences in how you process information, not a measure of intelligence or potential. Naming them helps you design smarter ways of working.
Strengths That Power of Dyslexic Leadership
- Empathy: Lived experience of challenge builds real understanding and trust.
- Visual problem-solving: You see patterns and connections others miss.
- Pattern recognition: You quickly spot trends across projects, people and data.
- Creative communication: You’re strong at painting a clear, compelling picture.
- Adaptive resilience: Years of workaround skills = calm, persistent leadership.
Communicate with Clarity (Visuals First, Words Second)
Make your communication a system, not a scramble.
Core routines
- Intent sentence (start every meeting):
“Intent: Understand blockers on Project X and agree three actions by Friday 12:00.” - ECN mini-summary (for updates/decisions):
Evidence: What we know. → Claim: What this means. → Next step: Who does what by when. - 1–3–1 feedback:
1 positive → 3 specifics to improve → 1 support offer.
Visual aids that cut friction
- Flowcharts for multi-step processes.
- Kanban boards for work-in-progress and owners.
- Action logs visible to all, with due dates and decision history.
Lean written template
- Subject: Decision needed – Q3 marketing budget
- Summary: One-sentence ask.
- Details: Bullets only.
- Action: Who / what / when.
Use dyslexia-friendly fonts (Arial/Calibri), high contrast, and short paragraphs. When writing matters, pair with an AI grammar tool and read-aloud checks.
Time Management & Organisation (Built for a Visual Brain)
- Digital calendar + reminders for every commitment.
- Kanban/Trello/Asana to see tasks at a glance (Backlog → Doing → Done).
- Pomodoro + “parking lot”: 25-minute focus sprints; park off-topic ideas.
- Weekly review (15 minutes): What moved? What’s stuck? What’s next?
- File discipline: Clear names, standard folders, pinned favourites.
- Long documents: Use text-to-speech to listen; skim with headings; capture 3 bullet takeaways.
Build and Lead High-Performing Teams
- Structured check-ins: Same day/time each week, agenda sent early.
- Transparent ownership: Every task has a single owner and date.
- Psychological safety: Model “I might be wrong—tell me what I’m missing.”
- Mentoring & buddying: Pair complementary strengths, share playbooks.
- Inclusive rituals: Anonymous question box; written recap after key meetings.
Create an Inclusive Culture (Neurodiversity as a Strength)
- Make it policy: Agendas shared in advance; slides high-contrast; record key meetings and share transcripts.
- Resource group: A simple employee network to swap tips/tools.
- Manager toolkit: Short guides on working with different cognitive styles.
- Fair processes: Written + verbal routes to contribute; clear decision logs.
Overcoming Common Leadership Frictions
Writing load → Use the lean template + ECN + read-aloud.
Memory/complexity → Visual boards; action logs; calendar nudges.
Context switching → Batch similar tasks; block deep-work time.
Meeting overload → 25-minute stand-ups; decisions written in 3 bullets.
Dense reports → Executive summary first; listen via text-to-speech; ask for “ECN plus appendix”.
Micro Case: Running a Q3 Roadmap Session
- Before (10 mins): Post agenda + intent, attach a one-page Kanban snapshot.
- Open (2 mins): Read the intent aloud; confirm the decision and timebox.
- Discuss (15 mins): Walk the board; capture blockers as ECN bullets.
- Decide (5 mins): Assign owners/dates; sanity-check capacity.
- Close (3 mins): Read out the three actions; share the ECN summary in chat.
Success, Framed Realistically
Many prominent leaders and entrepreneurs have spoken openly about dyslexia and credit visual thinking, storytelling and resilience as core to their success. The pattern is consistent: design systems that fit your brain, and your strengths compound.
Weekly Review Checklist (Copy/Paste)
- What did we finish? Move cards to Done.
- What’s blocked? Capture an ECN and assign an owner.
- What’s next? Top three priorities only.
- Who needs context? Send a 5-line summary.
- What will I do differently next week?
Final Thoughts
You’re more than capable of leading—your brain is wired for it. Anchor your week with a few simple routines (Intent sentence, ECN, Kanban, weekly review). Keep communication visual and decisions explicit. Build a team culture that values different ways of thinking, and your strengths will become the team’s advantage.
