Be an effective leader and have Aspergers Syndrome?

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Can someone with Aspergers be an effective leader? Many of the things that define an effective leader are areas that many people with Aspergers have problems with. The big one in having a "Sharp Perception" Without this how can I be an effective leader? I have a hard time reading facial expressions, does this mean I can not be an effective leader? I have a really hard time seeing for someone else's perspective. And the majority of the time other people are not even close to understanding what my perspective is. One of my co worker's today said that when I'm working intensely on something I look like I'm struggling to figure something out. I'm not trying to figure something out, I'm just really focusing on something. I'm asking because at my full time job I'm in a position that requires good leadership skills. I seem to always have to work at this. Nothing seems to come naturally for me.

I have been a supervisor or boss a couple of times. I didn't volunteer. The higher ups thought I would be good at it. I did o.k. I guess.

Most of the time it is just a no thank job. Not really something for me.

Everyone says Bill Gates has apergers.

What do you think the main issues with being a leader with AS would be? I am genuinely curious because I am in uni and have taken on a job "Freshmen Leader" which is helping freshmen with the transition to college... and this is my first year doing it. Any tips/ thoughts would be helpful, as I have never done something like this before.

Being a good leader requires good people skills. And to have good people skills it is important to know how to see from someone else's prospective. A machine operator may have a different way to do something, Because of this it requires me to be open and see things from there prospective and not my own. Just because I think it should be done my way does not mean that it is the only way. I must be able to also determine if there way is also good practices for the business and will it require a change in procedures or is it just a small change that just makes things easier for that operator. "Let's say, the operator wants to hang flags on the machines because it adds color to there work environment. I could respond several ways. For example, I could say " Are you crazy! Why in the hell would you want to do that!" or I could say " I can understand that you would like to add more color to the work environment, could you give me some more suggestions on how this could be done and why it would benefit everyone? You also have to considered the tone of voice you use. Are you yelling, are you calm, is it soft, is it broken like you are nervous. For some people if I used the first approach they would not have a problem with this for others the second approach is better. Being a good leader requires good people skills and the ability to see from others prospective. You also have to know the people you are working with so you know how to approach them. I use to use the first approach the most. I'm learning how to use the second approach. Being a good leader seems to be easier for some people more then others. There are so many variables and so many things that I just do not understand about NT's. I have HFA and I really struggle with developing relationships and maintaining them. I also find it really hard to see from someone else's prospective. I'm not a good leader but constantly work to be a better one. The position I'm in did not require me to be a team leader at first, but due to the company changes my position now requires me to be a good team leader. If I can not do this I will eventually lose my job. In the job market in my area it will be hard to find another job making the same salary.

Sure. Take look at Janusz Korwin-Mikke, Polish politician (he is not diagnosed with Asperger but if you find some youtube clips about him you will realize a lot of traits, specially if you understand polish... the way he speaks... ). The founder and head of 3 political parties so far. He got as many enemies as followers but he is so popular and well known that he was considered a president candidate and got 2,48% (4th place of 10 candidates) in 2010. He surely stands out and is passionate about what he is doing. That makes him a great leader in some unconventional way. It is simply impossible to to be indifferent about him. You either hate him or like him, eventually don't take him seriously. You are unable to be neutral about him.

Last edited by Kiriae on 08 Aug 2014, 12:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I've been an engineering supervisor at my work for many years - I've found the key to being a successful leader is building a good team and creating an open and fair work environment.

I've found that if you're open and honest with people, explain to them where you want the team to go, set expectations but be fair when things go wrong, say-what-you-do and do-what-you-say then people will go out of your way to support you.

Too many leaders are political and play games. I`m not like that - I'm a straight up guy and I've found a lot of people seem to appreciate this in me and not care about my aspieness - as best I can tell.

People want to work and be appreciated for their contribution. I'm polite and respectful to my staff and make the point of thanking them when they do a particularly good job. I work to get the barriers out of their way so they can come in and get things done.

I've gotten good reviews and feedback about my team over the years from management and I give my team the credit due when it is given to me. If I can see far it's only because I'm being carried on the shoulders of tall, strong, determined people.

I often wonder about this myself. I wouldn't call myself a good people person, but basically, I think, it comes down to respecting others and being respected. Knowing how to manage people rather than read them (which is a skill that can be learned, it just might be more difficult than for non NTs).

I will follow this thread with interest.

Absolutely. I have been an excellent and beloved and respected leader in several situations. And I have also risen to management levels in many of the jobs I have had and have risen very quickly. I never kept those jobs because of the sensory issues I was having and the stresses but if I had known then that I was on the Spectrum allowances and accommodations would have been made and I might have done very well. It just depends on what you are leading. If it is something that you are good at like a special interest than you can be extremely good at it. If it's something you hate or suck at you most likely won't be a very good leader.

I think leadership depends on your position in the leadership chain and the level of employees that are being lead. In my position I'm one level below the department manager. I have allot of interaction with the staff/operators. I give out machine assignment's, assist in trouble shooting and escalate issues to upper management as well as other tasks. I make sure that things are getting done that need done and it requires the entire team in order to accomplish this. It is a very loud environment with lots of big machines, forklifts, pallet jacks, and loud people. You must give out instructions which require you to raise your voice due to the noise level. Due to my lack of certain facial expressions I can come off as angry when I'm not.

There seems to be so many variables, it is very taxing on my executive functioning and does cause sensory issues. I think if I were in a position that did not require so much interaction with the team that I would be a good team leader. I for the most part have a very laid back , humorous personality but often others perceive me as too serious, non caring and mad all the time.

I guess everyone has there strengths and weaknesses. It would be interesting to find out what the average % would be for people with Asperger's /HFA to be successful in a position of leadership. Such as a Manager, Assistant Manager, Project Leader, Team Leader. Due to the fact that there is no significant data on the number of adults with Asperger's /HFA it is not possible to determine the number of people with Asperger's / HFA in the workforce to begin with, let alone the percentage in leadership positions. Based off current studies they suggest that:

12% Full-time employment rate for individuals with High Functioning Autism and Asperger's

6% Full-time employment rate for individuals with classic Autism

80% Live as a dependent with family members throughout their life.

http://www.aspergersmn.org/what-is-aspergers/statistics

Many people says he has Asperger's but does he actually have it?

Is it possible that he just has some Asperger's traits?

What is Bill Gates opinion on this matter?

It depends on the leadership dynamic of the situation, your niche of work, special interest, the number of people you would be leading and where on the spectrum a person is.

I effectively lead a database project, there are only two other people in said team and I'm tasked to establish a new cataloguing system on a voluntary basis. I communicate my intentions between staff, provide potential training and teach any future system user. It's sometimes anxiety provoking because it's very old tech and staff have a very low level of computer understanding, getting any point across can be a nightmare.

I've been in a team for degree projects in university that have gone poorly, let alone attempting to lead it. So I'm made to believe it really depends on many factors.

I'm a very good leader when people actually listen to me. *sigh* When they don't, it usually results in a lot of wasted time and me going, "I told you so!"

I hate leading, though. It's too much interaction, but no way am I going to let other people drag down my grades.

To be a good leader, be confident, know how to break down and delegate tasks, and perhaps most importantly, find a way to focus on the end result instead of stewing about how you'll probably have to pick up your less diligent partners' slack.

Leadership IS about people skills, but it's also about knowing how to delegate.

In a seminar I took, the presenter pointed out that "true" leadership is a gift. Not everyone entrusted with leadership responsibility have this gift. He said it was wise to learn to spot the "true leaders" in your group and learn how to convince them to embrace your ideas. If they are sold on them, they will make it happen. If they don't agree, it will never happen.

Effective leadership is about knowing how to get things done. It's not all about being able to push your will onto everyone else.

In the past I was put into positions to be a team lead. According to myself I was mediocre at best, but colleagues respected me and the work got done.
On one occasion I even was asked to coordinate the quality control in a project.

There is a booklet about management:
Managing with Aspergy Syndrome by Malcolm Johnson

It could be useful, but it is a while since I read it.

I have struggled with this. I am a doctor and my colleagues know me as being friendly and approachable so I thought all the nurses thought that too but recently I found out there is a cadre of nurses that don't like me because they think I am brusque, demanding, and intimidating. Apparently I'm not supposed to say things like "this medication still needs to be given" or "do you think you can get the urine for Ms. Jones that's all we're waiting on". I really respect the nurses but there are a lot of politics and I'm obviously out of my league cause I have no clue who doesn't like my approach. It's especially hard when we use radios to communicate because I tend to mumble and forget the little niceties of speech. I have started to make a point of approaching each nurse with a smile and a compliment early on in shift so they know my intentions but would be interested in improving