I’m a Sales professional with dyslexia, and my learning difference is a total gift. Reality is that very few people view dyslexia as a gift. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Studies show people with dyslexia are above average on many important traits to find success in their career.
Dyslexic employees are dynamic achievers. Dyslexia does not have to be a barrier to success but rather a tool to achieving success.
Yes, it took me a long time to learn how to use my gift effectively and accept the fact that I learn differently than most of my peers. But once I harnessed my strengths, the result has exceeded my expectations, leaving me in disbelief at how successful my learning difference has helped me become.
One of the most challenging aspects that I experienced was keeping up with and setting realistic goals for myself because I struggle with decoding information. Decoding new information is super difficult. It takes a lot more energy to decode information for a person that is dyslexic than it does for someone without dyslexia.
Working in sales has taught me that I will be uncomfortable, and it will happen often. Luckily, this is something I am great at! Growing up with a learning disability presents many uncomfortable moments, daily.
Most people with dyslexia struggle with having to read, because it’s uncomfortable, and it is a struggle most of the time.
In the sales industry, there is always a new competitor or a new product to keep up with. I have learned that setting a realistic goal for myself and taking my time to decode is the only way to overcome the challenge of learning new information.
One way I support this is to schedule time to read. This means I block out quiet time to learn about new products or industry trends. Without the pressure to decode quickly, I’m able to retain more effectively. Since doing this I can provide more relevant information during discussions, engage deeper in those discussions, and continually expand my industry knowledge. This would be a great accommodation for employers to provide employees in order to support them to do their best work.
The gifts of dyslexia are endless. Learning to harness the tools to help with challenges is important in any industry. With dyslexia, I know my creativity to think outside the box will provide many solutions to the challenges that come up along the path of my career and continue to present more gifts.
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