Leadership in Neurodiversity and Neurodivergence: Cases, Best Practices and Recommendations for Leaders and Organizations

This book explores neurodiversity and neurodivergence in the workplace from a practical perspective. There are estimates and surveys that assume 15 to 20 percent of all employees are neurodivergent, including people with attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit-hyperactive disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyscalculia, and autism. In contrast to neurotypical people, they have a different way of absorbing and processing information or expressing feelings than the majority, presenting challenges for traditional corporate management for employees, managers, and organizations. In this book, the authors examine ways in which organizations can attract, recruit, and engage neurodiverse talent, and provide guidance on how to adapt human resource practices and processes to ensure that all employees can reach their full potential. It describes the forms of neurodiversity and how optimal collaborations can work successfully.

Featuring cases, work aides, and best practices, this book helps leaders and organizations to use neurodiversity as competitive advantage to significantly increase productivity, teamwork and employee retention.

Marc Helmold is a full-time Professor at IU International University of Applied Sciences in Berlin, Germany. He teaches Bachelor, Master and M.B.A. courses in business management, operations management, lean management, quality management and leadership. He had several positions in executive leadership positions at OEMs in the automotive, railway and aviation industry. Since 2016 he has been Professor at the IU Internationale Hochschule in Berlin (Germany) and conducts Lean, Quality and Leadership workshops in his own consultancy MaHeLeanCon.

Malte Martensen is Professor of HRM, Entrepreneurship and Organizational Behavior and Researcher at IU International University of Applied Sciences in in Bremen and Berlin, Germany. He specializes in leadership, entrepreneurship, organizational psychology, human resources management and the digitalization of work. In addition to his academic responsibilities, Malte consults organizations of various sizes and industries on issues of strategic HRM. He is also a speaker, trainer, and certified coach, as well as a recognized author of numerous academic publications.