This week we are supporting Neurodiversity Celebration Week. Neurodiversity refers to a world where neurological differences are recognised. As a business, we understand how openness to diversity widens access to the best talent by enabling each person to be themselves, achieve their full potential, and thrive at work.
We spoke to one of our partners, Seb Kingsley, who told us about his hidden superpower. Seb has been with us since graduating in 2003. He has changed specialisms, roles, responsibilities, and offices within the business over the last 21 years but is now an Equity Partner within our Infrastructure Services Division. Recently, Seb opened up to the whole business about his experiences and how it is important for others to feel comfortable about being open about having dyslexia.
“To anyone in the business with dyslexia, I want to say to you that what you have is incredible and you should celebrate the way your brain is wired. I wanted to get involved with this feature on neurodiversity and share my experiences, as I believe it is important for us all to understand the differences in how people see the world and the information in it.
“I went through school being told that I was ‘just a bit thick’ by my teachers. It was only when I reached secondary school, then went through sixth form and to university, that I started to get the support I needed. When I was at school the academic system was not properly set up to support neurodivergent individuals, thankfully things have improved, but there is still a long way to go to provide the support that everyone needs.
“I do not have an academic mind and I had to fight my way through my degree. 2004 was a good year for me as it was the first in four years that I hadn't failed an exam but only because I didn't take any that year! Whilst this might seem flippant, I simply want to highlight the struggle I had, and I know others have had, with exam-based academia, which is still the norm for most studies. Doing things a certain way or the ‘accepted norms’ often do not cater for the neurodivergent within society, and we can suffer because of this. We all need to continue to learn more about neurodiversity to understand the unique abilities that we all have that add value both at home and in the workplace.
I have been following the work of Made by Dyslexia for a few years now, they are a great organisation who are trying to change the perspective of dyslexia. You can watch one of their videos here.
“Since being at Fisher German, I have managed to become a Chartered Member (MRICS) of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) (MRICS) and subsequently a Fellow (FRICS). I have also achieved a Fellowship (FAAV) from the Central Association for Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) and have obtained the PRINCE2 project management qualification. True to form, I did fail my MRICS and FAAV exams the first time around, but I always felt supported by my colleagues when working towards these goals.
“For many years I saw my dyslexia as a real hindrance and as a severe disability, but I now view it as a gift. With around 20% or one in five people, being dyslexic, there could quite possibly be over 160 people working at Fisher German with this same gift. Besides, a dyslexic mind is a fabulous thing - my brain is capable of things that four in five brains either can't do or can't do as well!
“My dyslexia affects my handwriting, reading and spelling and at 19 years old an assessment found that I had the spelling age of a 13-year-old and reading ability of a 12-year-old. The same assessment scored me in the 95th percentile for verbal comprehension and 99th percentile for visual perception. Visual perceptual skills involve the ability to organise and interpret the information that is seen and give it meaning. This is the ability to visualise data and the environment. These are key markers for dyslexia.
“I see the things around me differently, I can look at a set of 2D drawings and bring them to life in my mind. I can look at sets of data and spot patterns and inconsistencies in them simply, where others may not be able to. I see the world and data differently. I have turned my dyslexia into my superpower!
I was inspired by the ‘Made By Dyslexia’ campaign that created the Dyslexic Sperm Bank to change how people see dyslexia. You can watch a short video about this here. The dawning of reality about dyslexia that this video brings to those being challenged about dyslexia is brilliant.
“I am fortunate that I have been given the support and freedom to bring my gift to life. A large part of my job at Fisher German is around data, data processes and reporting. For me, I can look at several sets of data, visualise them in my mind, spot patterns and work out how to transform them for others to view.
“As a business, we should always be looking for neurodiverse colleagues and making sure that their skills are put to the best possible use. That way we get the best from them, and they get the best out of us. Many dyslexics in Fisher German still view their dyslexia as a disability that they may be ashamed of and don't want to disclose to colleagues. I don’t want it to be treated with kid gloves or be taboo to talk about it in the office.
Maria Hawley, our Director of People, added: “At Fisher German, it is important to create working environments and cultures where every individual can feel safe, belong, and be empowered to achieve their full potential. We recognise that everyone thinks, processes, and communicates in different ways. We want to help colleagues understand and embrace neurodiversity so we can create an inclusive environment. We must recognise and emphasise each person’s strengths and talents, while also providing support for their differences and needs on an individual level. A 'one size fits all' approach does not and should not work for everyone. Sharing Seb’s story can help us recognise the many talents and advantages of being neurodivergent while creating more inclusive and equitable cultures that celebrate differences and empower every individual.”
Seb added: “I would love for this article to be seen by the teachers in my early years who said I would amount to nothing as I was a bit thick. I am extremely proud to be an Equity Partner at Fisher German, a very supportive employer, and equally supportive fellow partners”.
After publishing this article recently in Fisher German, Seb received some great feedback from colleagues within the business which had been sparked by his openness:
“What an incredible article, really informative & interesting.”
“Great article. My granddaughter has dyslexia, and my wife always says the Paloma Faith song ' Make your own kind of music' could have been written for her.”
“Thanks, Seb, a great article. I am dyslexic and have an 11-year-old who is also dyslexic. Understanding and access to support provision has certainly improved in the education system but, as you say, still has a long way to go and remains woefully underfunded. Early intervention makes a significant difference and hopefully, future generations diagnosed with dyslexia, with proper support, won't have to face the fairly consistent suggestion of failure and knocks to the confidence we experienced. The comment in the video about how we need to teach people how to think and not just pass exams really struck a chord. Recognising we don't all fit into the same mould and have differing, but equally valuable, skill sets should indeed be celebrated. Thanks for highlighting.”
“Thanks, Seb. I've just texted my niece about ‘Made By Dyslexia’ - her daughter has recently been assessed as having dyslexia.”
“Seb, who would have thought...”
“Thanks for sharing this Seb, I have a neurodiverse daughter-in-law and often find it hard to understand the way she does things however, she is a super mum and holds down an excellent job in London where she too can use her skill set.”
“Can absolutely support the fact that you use your ability extremely well- including to help others visualise things.”
“Thank you so much for sharing this. What a fantastic and thoughtful article.”
“Thank you, Seb, I was that kid pushed into the side room at school.”
