Summer is a pretty fail time of year for me. I get mopey, depressed, tired, and all around less of me during the summer months. I don’t like the heat, I don’t like the bugs, and I especially don’t like that my house has no air conditioning.

Usually during the winter, I’ll sleep with my clothes on and my windows shut, and that works pretty well on average. During the summer, however, I must keep my windows open and sleep at least without a shirt in order to not die of heatstroke within my own house.

That means that I can hear all the bugs moving outside. And since I have long hair, every time I shift, I feel a slight tickle on my shoulders, which combined with the sounds freaks me out.

Now, this isn’t an entirely illegitimate reaction, because I have had things sneak through the screen/bugspray combo and decide i’m a good hiding spot before. However, freaking out at my own hair is no way to live my life.

If you guys cant tell by now, my policy is to never let anything keep me from being my best, and this is getting pretty old. Any tips?

Logan: A Question For You

So, this is a bit of a deviation from my normal jazz, but I feel like it fits the overarching theme of the blog, which is to never let aspergers limit you.

Last weekend (Memorial Day weekend), I went to a convention right here in Raleigh called Animazement. It is centered on Japanese and Asian culture, anime, video games, and cosplay. Needless to say, there were a lot of people there in a lot of outrageous outfits doing a lot of outrageous things. And there were some crowds.

I dont know about you, but crowds are anathema to me. No one has yet presented me with an adequate argument for getting large numbers of people in one place for any purpose. I mean, we have the internet now, the need for personal interactions on such an impersonal scale is pretty adequately covered. And besides that, people are scary. Do Not Want.

But some friends were going, and convinced me to come with them. They all know how I feel about crowds, about large noises, about strangers, etc… etc… but they drug me along anyways.

I thought it would be hell, I thought that it would suck, I thought I would spend the weekend paralyzed in fear. Nope. Instead, by pushing my limits a bit, I actually had the most fun i’ve had in well over two or three years.

The rave was a bit iffy, but after my ears adjusted, even that was fun, despite my absurdly inept dance moves.

For readers who have recently joined us, Logan posts occasionally about life as a young network engineer with Aspergers.  He goes into more detail at his own blog, Adultspie.

Logan: Animazing!

If you’ve been following Logan’s column, you’re probably aware of some challenges that those of us on the spectrum face in the workplace.  I’d be surprised if anyone with Aspergers hasn’t had more than their fair share of frustration with coworkers and even left a job (either voluntarily or not) due to spectrum-related issues.  According to one common statistic, 4 out of 5 adults with autism are unemployed.

Ike from Autelligent Laboratories has been there, done that, and decided he’s had enough of feeling helpless.  So he’s doing something about it.

He’s started AutLabs, a company built around the inclusion of employees on the spectrum.  Why not take advantage of the amazing gifts we have and create an work environment that fosters growth rather than opression?

Visit the AutLabs website to learn more and find out what you can do to make workplaces more tolerant of autism!

AutLabs: Tackling the Great Employment Issue

On Monday, Logan will resume posting his weekly column; he had a good reason for his absence this week that I hope he’ll share with you!  (I’m so proud of you Logan!)

On Tuesday, Michael Buckholtz from Aid for Autistic Children Foundation will be here to talk about why it’s so important to remember adults as well as children in the autism community, and something special he’s doing to raise awareness.

And on Thursday, I’m going to introduce you to Ike Dealey of AutLabs.  Ike is creating solutions for autistic adults who find themselves skilled and eager to work but frustrated by discrimination.

I might pop in now and then if the hotel really does have wi-fi, otherwise see you when I get back!

While I’m Away…

(photo: monkeyc.net)

If you’re anything like me, you’ve got deadlines and schedules to meet. And sometimes, like me, you probably miss a few of them.

That can create big problems at work and personally, especially for big things like buying a present for your significant other’s birthday, or the big meeting that the boss is counting on you for. Sometimes you need to meet a deadline just to get paid!

I ran into that one this morning. I forgot to fill out my timesheet for the last pay period on friday. I almost gave the city two weeks of free work!

Sandy likes to call it executive somesuch something or other. It really doesn’t matter what the name for it is, because it can be worked around and mitigated.

I have to set three alarms in order to wake up in the mornings. I set my personal information manager (outlook, evolution, etc..) to warn me in four different places when I have a meeting coming up. I keep a reminder to go eat every day, as my manager has ordered me to take a lunch break every day.

It seems like a lot of work to go to just to do things on a schedule, but in professional life, it’s got to be done. I find that being gently reminded of my obligations is a great way to consistently meet them. Consistently meeting obligations is a great way to get the reputation of an employee who gets the job done right and on time.

People are also more likely to give me what I want when they remember how I pulled them out of the fire with a timely delivery of service. Perception is reality, I don’t want to be perceived as unreliable.

(Make sure to come back for Part 2 of Making the Cut: Deadlines next week!)

Logan posts on Mondays about Aspergers and the workplace.  Catch up on his previous columns here.

Logan: Making The Cut: Deadlines (Part 1)

Be sure to join us on Monday!

On Monday…

Lunches are not so easy. There’s little structure after you’re asked what you’d like to eat, and depending on who’s with you, a career-poisoning move may very well be possible. When you’re with new people, everything is scrutinized, from your choice of food to the way you take your seat, and worst of all is the topic of conversation. Discussing the wrong thing can get you in trouble with the boss, it can kill a sale, maybe even get you fired.

Sometimes it might seem better to eat in silence.  However, that’s usually a bad idea.

With coworkers: Lunch discussion can be an unloading point for stress of the day, or a time to talk about the weekend, kids, significant others, etc… this is an important counterpoint to a stressful working day that I find keeps my sanity in place, and helps develop the bond between coworkers. There’s nothing worse than to hate your coworkers, as I spend more time with them than my family and friends.

With the boss:  Lunch can be a great time to informally discuss the challenges you face in your daily work, if he or she is up for the topic. This helps impress upon your boss the value that you add to the organization, and can give your boss insight into better management of the group’s resources. Your boss can also give you a bit of insight into the challenges they face as a manager. I know that my boss does a lot of budget things, and so I attempt to do my job as efficiently as possible both in terms of time and money. Building this kind of working rapport with your boss is essential. Who knows, you might even stay friends after you stop being their direct report.

Senior management: Technical conversation should be kept to a minimum, but still have a presence to impress upon them your competence. I try to focus on learning as much as I can about the organizational goals. That makes me look good for caring about more than just my daily life, and allows them to do most of the talking, saving me from dangerous over-exposure. Impressing them with my technical ability without overwhelming them with technical details is also important, because senior management is prone to bypass normal support venues and go straight to the person they think is most qualified, increasing my face time with them and creating a better professional atmosphere for myself.

People from other organizations: Comparatively easy to deal with, especially in my situation. Most of the professionals from other organizations that I get the chance to sit down with are ether sales representatives or project teams. Both are interested in impressing me, not the other way around. Other organizations LOVE to be allowed to sell themselves to you, and if you let them talk long enough, they might pay for lunch! You may also wish to remember that the majority of people you meet from other organizations will be working in your career area, so you may wish to sell yourself to them as well. Knowing people is a powerful tool in a job search, especially in this economy.

Ultimately, a successful business lunch is an important and delicious part of your day. Done right, you can make and reinforce connections that will make life as a professional exponentially easier and more enjoyable. The best part is that the chance comes every day.

Logan posts on Mondays about Aspergers and the workplace.  Catch up on his previous columns here.

Logan: Professional Lunching

At some point, it is gonna happen. Unless you are someone’s manager, you will have to share a working area with someone. It could be a cubicle, it could be a workbench, maybe it’s just a counter. I don’t know about you, but it bothers me when people touch my stuff.

Crossing the Line

I’ve got myself a system, and although it doesn’t look orderly or neat to others, I know where things are. My coworkers sometimes try to “do me a favor” and “clean things up”. Then the next time they ask me for a document I had on my desk, instead of picking it up and handing it to them, I have to dig through some drawer. I’m sure you know the feeling.

In network engineering, we are sort of a hybrid between desk work and leg work (cue joke about net work). I spend some time at my desk, some time installing equipment, some time running cables, and some time in meetings. I have my own toolset for installing switches and rack mount routers. Some time ago, I came in and my ratcheting screwdriver was broken because one of my coworkers had used it on a screw that was in too tight.

Setting Boundaries

In my environment, I share a cube with two other people. Luckily for me, they are wary of my apparent mess. But I don’t just pray for good behavior. There is a natural barrier created by my coworker’s screen placement, her phone, and my own workstation that delineates where my area starts. The presence of the screen and the phone makes it impractical for her to bother my area.

It’s important when sharing a workspace to set these types of boundaries for your personal stuff, and to communicate those boundaries. If you don’t want your stuff touched or moved sans permission, try asking your coworkers to leave your stuff alone unless they ask, or at least notify you. Nothing is worse than not knowing where your tools are when you need them.

Logan posts on Mondays about Aspergers and the workplace.  Catch up on his previous columns here.

Logan: Sharing Your Space At Work

How can you ever get a word out at work with all these coworkers around?  I’m sure you know the feeling, when they are passing along those little signals to each other that somehow pass the verbal right of way, and you cant squeeze a word in edgewise.  Even worse are those meetings where time is a premium, and any coworker will not hesitate to speak over someone else if they feel the subject warrants it.  All too often, I find them talking over top of me, and it was hard to find a way to get my voice out there.

Some days I’ll be in a meeting with two or three other work groups, and we are discussing a big project. There’s a lot on the line, and a deadline might be coming up.  With failure never an option, my coworkers get nervous and start demanding updates from the other groups.  This is referred to as “due diligence”, which in this context means ensuring all your bases are covered so as to avoid blame.  When half the meeting is consumed by due diligence, the time for meaningful information gets smaller and smaller, and finally people start interrupting.  How then, can I get my important information out to the group, when people are trying to talk over me?

The trick is simply confidence. I don’t pause while someone attempts to interrupt me anymore, unless of course it’s my boss.  That comes across as rude yes, but at the same time, people perceive it as self-confidence.  Nothing is more professional than a skilled, self-confident person stating the facts.  What you have to say is important, and you just can’t let a room full of your colleagues discourage you from passing along the information they may very well need.

You should never let a coworker’s behaviours discourage you from getting the job done.  Sometimes it’s hard, and you may not be liked for standing up for yourself, but you have to tell yourself you’re being paid to do work, not be bullied into silence.  Your coworkers, bosses, etc…may not realize what they do is bothering you, so it will never help to simply suffer in silence. You have to be proactive about taking care of your duty to present the best ideas you can present.  It is tough, but once you have a reputation for it, people will respect you more.  Nothing is more important to a professional than to be respected, both as a colleague and a subordinate who gets the job done.

Logan posts on Mondays about Aspergers and the workplace.  Catch up on his previous columns here.

Logan: Getting Heard At Work

Guest blogger Logan Williams, a network engineer for the city of Raleigh, has some excellent insights on dealing with AS in the workplace.  His self-assured approach has boosted my confidence in many situations, so I’ve asked him to share some tips here.

Let me start off by thanking AspieTeach for inviting me to write this guest post.

Working with NTs is a big challenge, but ultimately a very rewarding experience if done successfully. I work for a local level government, which is a more conservative working environment than most. This provides me with both the job stability that makes me comfortable devoting my time to the tasks I am assigned, and a relatively conservative working environment that can frustrate and confound me at times. As a network engineer in a rapidly changing enterprise infrastructure, a good deal of my time is spent in meetings with coworkers, bosses, and representatives from our other departments. I’m sure I dont need to explain the numerous problems I have with being in a small room with a bunch of sometimes loud and adamant NTs.

The most challenging are the ones who have spoken with an industry representative and gotten sold on a “best practice” that conflicts with our existing set. Most of the time, I have my boss at my back, who is responsible for the best practices we use, and shields me. When I don’t, It is easy to feel cornered even by a single other person, and even easier to get backed against the wall by multiple people who’re all on the same page. How then, do I deal with that situation?

The best way, I have found, is to take a step forward, close my eyes for just a second, breath out, and then put my foot down. As nervous as the situation makes me, NTs will only continue to push me against the wall until I ether cave to their desires, thereby wreaking havoc on the network infrastructure, or I push back and firmly assert our network standard practices as the absolute last word on the subject.

It’s easy to feel cornered or trapped when confronted by one or more NTs, but in the long run, you cant let them run over you, and you cant let them freak you out. It can be a difficult proposition to overcome the anxiety, and not every coping mechanism works for everyone. However, if you can do it, working with NTs will become the most rewarding part of your professional life. Well, besides payday!

Thank you so much for the post, and we look forward to reading about more of your adventures in the workplace and how you adapt!

Logan: Standing Up To NTs At Work