Being ASD as a teacher

[Cityandmakeup]

So I am a female teacher with ASD- I am aware I have these traits. I have recently been told that my flaw is basically that I will not butt in at meetings to say my piece as this is the sign of a good ‘leader’. I really struggle with this sort of this as my brain will not let me do it. I will listen wait my turn. I have excellent results for students and I find it hard that I come up against these things every now and then. Any other educators with ASD traits find it hinders them at work?

I don't have ASD however I am a secondary teacher and I don't think that this is a flaw. I've been in many meetings with so-called natural leaders who talk over others, and I would say that this is their flaw. If anything, I would suggest that meetings need to have time and space for people to respond without having to butt in.
Has this 'advice' been offered because you are seeking to move up the scale to HOD/HOY?

It was at an interview with a setup of a ‘professional discussion’ whereby the first person to jump in got the ‘points’. I am more of a wait for a time to speak person- it is really disheartening that something I cannot change is held against me.

I've not come across this type of interview and I doubt it's very popular- you could even argue it is ableist as it doesn't allow someone with slower processing capacity to engage. If this is an interview for another school then I would chalk it up to a lucky escape, if this is where their priorities lie then I don't think I would want to work there. It sounds like the kind of place where they pit staff against each other and that can only lead to animosity.

In that particular scenario, I would think it’s a better sign of leadership to ensure that everyone has had their say (and it was the ‘leader’ not you who lacked those skills). I’d therefore suggest you don’t take that feedback to heart.

I wonder though, whether a more relevant ASC trait here might be your response to the feedback? In an interview situation, the interviewers are looking for the ‘best fit’ for their organisation in a relatively short period of time. They don’t really get to know you but when asked for feedback they have to say something. They’ve therefore focused on one concrete element (the fact that he spoke first). While an NT candidate might think “well, okay, I could have handled that differently, but actually, that’s not my style” and moved on, you’re (totally understandably!) fixating on that - because you want to do better.

Does that resonate at all?