Written by Dr Carly Danesh-Jones MBE
Fellow visual thinkers, picture this: an important client is sipping their morning tea, scrolling through their inbox, when an email catches their eye. The grammar seems a bit off, the tone is unusually informal, honest or direct, and there’s not a correctly placed comma in sight. A very modern British nightmare, I know! Perhaps they assume the sender had a cheeky prosecco with their work lunch. But their assumptions would be incorrect. I’m six weeks sober at the time of writing, and I can assure you my spelling and oversharing have not improved at all.
When you receive an email like this, your initial reaction might be to frown, grab a red pen (reminiscent of a primary school teacher) or hit the delete button. But what if I told you that this abstractly designed email might be from the next Einstein, Richard Branson, Billie Eilish, Emma Watson or Steve Jobs of your industry?
Welcome to the wonderful world of neurodiversity in the workplace! It’s time to put the red pen down and leave your assumptions at the door, because otherwise you may overlook an important insight.
Neurodiversity is a transformative concept for your staff and clients who are neurodivergent. It will revolutionise your business faster than you can say “spell-check”.
Neurodiversity: the secret sauce to success
First things first, let’s talk about neurodiversity. Hopefully, in 2025 and beyond, we are all aware it’s not a trend like the latest smoothie or workout craze. Neurodiversity is here to stay. It refers to the natural variations in the human brain in socialising, learning, attention, mood and other mental functions. This includes conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia and more. Acas has a helpful introduction to neurodiversity at work if you’re new to the idea.
Our neurodivergent minds often come packaged with extraordinary talents and unique perspectives, and with a rare mix of integrity, honesty and out-of-the-box thinking that can take your company from “meh” to “marvellous”. We explore this in why neurodivergent strengths are key to innovation.
The email signature: your neurodiversity welcome mat
So, you’ve realised the potential of neurodivergent talent and started hiring these brilliant minds, so much so that even Alan from accounts feels safe enough to disclose his own neurodivergence after 34 years in post and counting (quite literally). Fantastic! But how do you make sure their communication styles aren’t lost in translation?
Drum roll, please. Enter the neurodiversity-friendly email signature. Think of it as a friendly heads-up, a corporate “pardon our magical fairy dust” sign. It’s a way of saying, “Hey, we’ve got some amazing minds working here, and sometimes our communication might differ slightly from what you’d expect. But trust us, it’s worth it!”
Here’s an example of what this magical signature might look like: “At (company name here), we actively seek out neurodivergent talent because we believe it’s the secret ingredient to our success. If this email seems slightly different in tone, grammar or spelling, please trust that all our communications are well intended. We value fresh ideas, stellar results and excellence over stale business jargon, perfect punctuation and spelling.”
Why bother? The benefits of embracing neurodiversity
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Why should I change my entire company email signature to accommodate a few employees?” Well, buckle up, buttercup, because I’m about to drop some truth bath bombs.
Talent attraction: By openly embracing neurodiversity, you’re signalling to a whole pool of untapped talent that your company is a safe and welcoming place for neurodivergent folk to shine. It’s like putting a “Geniuses who are sometimes bad at spelling are welcome” sign at your corporate entrance. The business case for hiring neurodivergent talent speaks for itself.
Innovation boost: Neurodivergent minds often see patterns and solutions that others miss. By creating an environment where we feel comfortable communicating our ideas, you’re setting up an innovation lightning rod for your company!
Improved company culture: Celebrating people for their differences creates a more inclusive and understanding workplace for people from many different backgrounds. It’s like sprinkling neon kindness confetti all over your office (minus the noisy hoovering and annoying sensory issues that follow).
Client education: Your email signature educates clients and partners about neurodiversity, spreading awareness and understanding beyond your office walls. You’re not just running a business, you’re changing minds.
Authenticity: In a world of corporate sameness, this signature shows that your company values genuine communication over polished facades.
But what about professionalism?
I can hear the sceptics now: “But what about maintaining a professional image?” Fear not, my respectfully conventionally minded friends. Professionalism is evolving faster than your iPhone’s operating system. In today’s world, authenticity and innovation often trump rigid adherence to old-school business norms. Think of it this way: would you rather have an email with impeccable grammar that says nothing new, or a slightly quirky email that solves one of the biggest problems in your business?
Clear, kind communication works both ways, of course. Our tips on communicating effectively with neurodivergent colleagues and our dyslexia styles guide help everyone meet in the middle.
Implementing your neurodiversity-friendly signature: a checklist
Ready to take the plunge into the pool of neurodiversity? Here are some tips for crafting your signature:
- Keep it fairly short and sweet: your signature should be a gentle reminder, not a novel.
- Highlight the positives: focus on the strengths and value of neurodivergent thinking.
- Be clear: explain briefly why communication might differ and why that’s okay.
- Add a touch of humour: a little wit can go a long way in making your message memorable. You don’t always have to be sensible to be responsible.
- Stay true to your brand: make sure the tone matches your company’s overall voice.
The bottom (signature) line
In a world where businesses constantly search for the next big competitive advantage, embracing neurodiversity might be your ticket to the innovation express. By introducing a neurodiversity-friendly email signature, you’re not just changing a few lines of text but signalling a seismic shift in how you value diverse talents and perspectives.
Sure, some colleagues may feel safe enough to disclose their neurodivergence (and it helps to know how to respond when an employee discloses), but what about the neurodivergent staff who are not yet ready to share? Around 1 in 5 of your employees may be neurodivergent without you knowing. Creating space for difference builds a supportive environment without putting neurodivergent people in an unwanted spotlight.
Be the company that sees the potential in every mind, even if their emails occasionally make your dictionary-corner, grammar-loving heart skip a beat.
Be prepared to prioritise groundbreaking ideas over groundless grammar rules, starting with a neurodiversity-friendly email signature. Who knows? The next email with a unique tone or creative spelling that flies into your inbox may contain the million-pound idea your company has been waiting for.
We think you might also like
Why ADHD often goes undetected in adults
The strengths of ADHD: unlocking unique potential
What are the benefits of supporting parents of neurodivergent children in the workplace?
How Enna can help
An email signature is a good first signal, but it needs something behind it. Our neuroinclusive communication workshop gets teams writing and talking in ways that work for different kinds of minds, and our free neuroinclusion maturity assessment will tell you where your organisation stands today. Happy to chat about next steps if you book a call.
If you’re hiring, you can also put your welcome mat out where neurodivergent candidates are already looking and post a role on the Enna jobs board.
