Insurance industry leaders can help neurodivergent people just by asking how they can accommodate their needs, one employee in the sector has revealed.
Maxim Cook, company secretary administrator at international insurer Tokio Marine Kiln, emphasised that just being asked by his boss how the organisation could help him was a massive support after his diagnosis.
Cook (pictured) told the Group for Autism, Insurance, Investment & Neurodiversity (GAIN) Inclusion By Design event about his experiences as a neurodivergent individual working in the insurance sector.
And he also stressed his skills which made him stand out from neurotypical people brought significant benefits to the business.
Support to work more effectively
Cook was diagnosed with autism in November 2020 and explained that at work he found himself displaying both neurodiverse and neurotypical characteristics.
In terms of neurodiverse characteristics, he does not like long pauses, has a tendency to butt in during conversations, has difficulty maintaining eye contact and has difficulty with social interactions in general.
But upon being diagnosed with autism, Cook said the most important question his boss asked him was about what the organisation could do to help him.
“My boss was really brilliant, Cook said.
“She first of all asked the question, ‘are you okay Maxim?’ and I said ‘yes, I’m fine – it’s just a diagnosis’.
“And then she asked the most important question: ‘what can I do to help you?’
“I hadn’t really thought of how does this affect me in the workplace? I had been doing creative stuff before and then coming to this corporate world, it was a big change and I didn’t think about that.”
Cook added he then began working with his boss on ways he could work more effectively.
“This was taking direct tasks from emails rather than being called over verbally across the office,” Cook explained.
“My calendar is a shining example of my over-organisation. I think there is every colour in the spectrum in that calendar which means something and it’s all categorised so I know what I’m doing and where I am.
“It’s the same with my internet tabs. I’ve got about 7,000 internet tabs open but it’s just how I work.”
These accommodations, adjustments and acceptance from his colleagues have allowed him to become more comfortable and excel in his role.
“I found at work I was able to think differently,” he continued.
“Without bragging, 90% of time I was able to think outside of the box in comparison with my neurotypical peers and think better in some instances – even when you’re working in corporate governance where it can be quite lacklustre.
“There’s not a lot going on so my new way of working, my ideas, can be really helpful in that environment,” he added.
