Neurodivergent and Twice Exceptional (2e) Leadership Coaching
You've proven you can do this. The promotions, the results, the reputation. And yet impostor syndrome, strategic decision paralysis and the workplace relationships that are putting your reputation at risk are still getting in the way.
You don't need generic leadership advice. You need a coach who understands exactly how your brain works and what it's capable of.
From one of my clients:
“Before I started working with Leigh, I was very focused on progressing my career but I only had a vague sense of what would actually be a good fit for me.
After working with Leigh, I’ve become more discerning (in a good way!) about the kind of opportunities I would actually want to pursue for a promotion or career move."
Is this you?
Feeling stuck
You’re aware you have the potential for senior leadership, maybe even C-Suite, but closing the gap to the roles you actually want feels insurmountable.
Political Mess
You know how to navigate the workplace politics, yet there’s one person you can’t seem to get it right with. The friction has been noticed and is putting your reputation at risk.
Decisions to make
You’re operating in high stakes circumstances, fast paced where the right decision isn’t always obvious. You want to demonstrate your capability to lead through challenging environments but right now feel out of your depth.
If you see yourself here, we’ll work through my ALIGN Methodology to remove these roadblocks, create a strategy and turn it into action.
Why Neurodivergent and Twice Exceptional (2e) Leaders get results with me
I regularly encourage my clients to hype themselves up, so after over three years supporting dozens of neurodivergent professionals across finance, consulting, tech, education, film, pharmaceuticals, construction and more, here’s me practising what I preach. Expand for examples.
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Example: A client struggling with micromanaging, perfectionism and task initiation. I linked these challenges to uncover that she was operating like a team leader rather than a strategic leader. She felt pulled to excel at the day-to-day without realising she had been promoted to operate at a higher level.
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Example: In a fifteen minute consultation call, a client asked for my perspective. After sharing it he said: “In fifteen minutes you’ve understood me on a deeper level than I have my entire adult life.”
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Example: One client was frustrated he couldn’t stick to a direction. I realised he had perfectionist tendencies and once he recognised that it opened the door to moving forward. Another thought she had an executive function problem, but it turned out to be a mix of low confidence and fear. Once we addressed the root causes, the executive function problem disappeared.
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Example: Regularly when clients encounter a difficult relationship, they adopt the approach of being as direct as possible to avoid any potential ambiguity. However, when a relationship is already difficult, the directness is often interpreted as rude or defensive. Multiple clients have significantly improved contentious relationships with direct reports, peers and managers making use of my relationship frameworks.
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Example: One client had a huge breakthrough half way through the session. She had realised something fundamental and the first steps to take it. So we finished the session early so that she could dive straight in and ride that momentum into action.
Sounds like the right fit?
Neurodivergent and 2e Careers
You’ve found a mentor, and they’re great but something isn’t quite hitting home. You’ve followed the neurotypical career advice but it just doesn’t seem to work for your current situation. How do you build a five year plan when decision paralysis and burnout are lurking? You know you’re different, and that your difference is an asset, but you’re not sure how to make it work.
I’ll let you into a secret, a rigid five-year plan often causes overwhelm before it creates progress. All we really need to get moving is the first step, then we can build the rest as we go, using what we learn along the way.
Let’s see you grow
Whether you’re embarking on your first leadership role or a seasoned manager looking to reach the next level, what got you to where you are today won’t necessarily make up the blueprint for the next season of your career. Instead, let’s take a proactive approach to building the career of your future, turning your powerful ideation into action, leveraging your direct communication as an asset and channelling your passion into meaningful impact.
Personalised to Your Stage in Your Career
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For individual contributors ready to progress into leadership for the first time, we’ll find out what your leadership strengths are and how we can use them to perform at your best, but also communicate them and demonstrate to your leadership the amazing skills you have.
Because you don’t have to be someone else, you can lead in a way that is authentic to you.Whether it’s challenges with impostor syndrome, advocating for yourself or making decisions on whether to make a move, we’ll find out the path that works for you.
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None of the leadership training I ever did prepared me for the most challenging part of management: handling difficult conversations.
Perhaps you’re having to tell an employee they’re underperforming for the first time, or are dreading an awkward conversation you need to have. Perhaps relationships are deteriorating and you need to find a way to move things forward.
Or maybe you are second guessing yourself in your new role, wondering if you really have what it takes to be a manager. And what’s the difference between management and leadership anyway?
Whether you’re struggling with impostor syndrome, progressing upwards in leadership, handling difficult conversations or making difficult career decisions, we can find a way forward that works for you.
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You’ve done this for years. You’re incredibly business savvy and you don’t need me to tell you how to run your department. But working out what you want next from your career? That’s a very different story.
Whether it’s working out how to progress further in leadership, whether it’s time to change company or time to change career all together, making decisions when you feel stuck is incredibly difficult.
Or maybe your challenge is much simpler (but simple doesn’t mean easy!): How do you handle a neurodivergent diagnosis as a senior leader? Do you tell anyone? Who do you tell? Should you be out and inspirational or would you rather keep it quiet?
The career quandaries for senior managers are complex, so let’s work through them together to find a solution that works for you.
Turning Challenges Into Results
Clients managing challenging relationships with their employees have reported significant relationship improvements after just one session.
Clients have turned down roles that weren’t the right fit then used their new clarity to find new roles that better suit their goals and values.
Each client walks away with at least two actionable steps to implement immediately from the first session.
Clients facing difficult career or leadership decisions leave sessions with clarity on the next step, whether that’s making the decision confidently in the moment or knowing exactly what information or perspective they need to gather to make it.
You won’t be coached to be someone you’re not. We focus on your unique strengths and style. Whether you’re dealing with impostor syndrome, perfectionism or tricky decisions, we find the path that works for you.
Build Your Future
Imagine understanding yourself well enough to know exactly why you are where you are and how you can use your unique brain and the strengths you have to reach higher levels of success.
Imagine being confident in your decisions and your ability to advocate for yourself and your team.
Imagine having a strategy to execute the next stage in your career. One that feels authentic and works with your unique brain.
Let’s make that a reality
Bringing out your best
Individual coaching is entirely personalised to you. We will tackle your real life challenges and solve them in a way that works for you through your personalised action plan.
We’ll work on a three or six month basis (per your choice), long enough to make huge progress with options to continue further.
We will meet every two weeks; long enough for life to happen in between, regular enough to keep momentum towards your goals.
All facilitated by ICF-ACC Accredited Leadership Coach, and fellow neurodivergent (ADHD officially, Autism suspected), Leigh Collier.
Want to see what leadership coaching is like before you sign up?
How You’ll Benefit
Goal Setting
You will have time and space to consider the goals you would like to accomplish and we will regularly check in on the progress made along the way. And if at any point, those goals no longer fit. It’s okay, it’s your personalised coaching course, so you can change them.
Personalised Coaching Sessions
Each coaching session is personalised to what you want to get out of it. We can continue from the previous session, we can pick up with the homework from last time or if something has come up between sessions we can tackle this. We tackle whatever is most useful to you.
Homework that is meaningful
Between session homework is set by you, based on the development and growth opportunities identified in the session that will be most useful for your goals. Suggestions from me are always optional, you choose what works for you and can even modify my strategies, like one client who adapted my alter ego strategy to view his career visibility communication from the perspective of a colleague he admired. I act as your accountability buddy, helping you achieve what you set out to do.
Neurodivergent-Friendly but not neurodivergent specific
All coaching is neurodivergent friendly but with the understanding that everyone’s neurodivergent presents differently. Whether you are autistic, dyslexic, have ADHD or Tourette’s Syndrome or are undiagnosed, the coaching is designed to work with your brain where you need it to go. None of “You are autistic so you should do x”, more “let’s find a strategy that works with your brain here”.
Your Cheerleader
You don’t celebrate yourself enough so I will do it for you. We will celebrate your wins and create your “smile pile”, taking time to be proud of what you’ve done along the way.
We’ll personalise the coaching to wherever you are on your journey with the ALIGN Methodology to make sure that you’re on the path you need to be on.
Did you know…
That a 2022 paper found that ADHD leaders made far better decisions when working with a “meaningful person”.
“Regarding leaders with ADHD in particular, it is shown that the presence of another interacting person, who offers feedback during the cognitive process, as well as actively sustained reaction, promotes decision making”
This has yet to be studied for other forms of neurodivergence, but one thing is for sure:
My role as a coach is to be your meaningful person. Let me help you make better decisions.
From my experience, this principle applies to all neurodivergent brains. Feedback and co-thinking improve decision making across the board, whether you have ADHD, autism, dyslexia or are undiagnosed.
Take the leap
Before I begin working with any client, I have a fifteen minute chat with them to make sure you’re the right fit for my approach. If not, I’ll signpost you to other resources.
Once we begin, we’ll handle any admin and dive straight into your first session. Each session is structured to:
Dive into real world challenges you’re facing in your career
Turn new insights into actionable steps you can implement immediately
Give you clarity on decisions, relationships or career moves
Leave you with a tangible outcome or next step by the end of the session.
In each session I meet you were you are on a particular day. You don’t have to worry about being too woo or too rational, we’ll do it in the way that works for your brain.
What Simon, Data Architect and ADHDer, had to say
Ready to become your best?
90 Day Leadership Transformation - £1650
6 x 1 hour 1:1 coaching sessions, fortnightly
Email support between sessions
Personalised tools, strategies and resources tailored to your situation
You'll walk away with clear strategies to lead at your best, turn perceived weaknesses into advantages and lead with confidence.
90% of clients reported a significant increase in self-compassion and confidence, moving from self-doubt to owning their track record.
40+ neurodivergent leaders coached
Frequently Asked Questions
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Nope. In fact you don't even have to tell me what neurodivergence you think you might have. I will work with you wherever your brain is at.
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Hey, me too! Because my coaching isn't structured around any particular form of neurodivergence and instead structured around personalising to your brain, we will work however your neurospicy brain needs.
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While most of my clients have a session every 2 weeks for three months, not all do. I have worked with people in the film industry who need to book in around their projects as well as freelancers with variable schedules. While I would recommend a 3 month minimum period, I have worked with people for shorter engagements and longer engagements as well.
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Absolutely. After we've spoken I can send an invoice to be provided for Access To Work funding.
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Any that I'm not sleeping in. I typically coach UK and US, however I have coached many people in Australia as well and am happy to make availability for other time zones as needed.
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My background is financial services so I have coached many from this background but I have also coached in the following industries: Consultancy, Pharmaceuticals, Technology, Education, Film and TV, Journalism, Start ups/self-employed and Hospitality. This list is continually being updated as I coach more individuals from a wide range of industries.
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Contrary to most online courses, I'm not actually going to tell you what to do. Rather we're going to use reflective enquiry to work out what the right next step is for you. I want to empower you to find your way forward instead of telling you what to do.
Sometimes people get coaching confused with therapy. Therapy looks at the past to help you heal in the present, whereas coaching starts in your present and looks to how we can help you grow.
I've created a YouTube video that goes through exactly this here: https://youtu.be/68chVJpcHZo
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Yes, payments can be split over 3 months for the 6 session package or 6 months for the 12 session package. There is a slight extra charge for payment plans due to processing fees.
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I am ICF-ACC credentialed. In order to achieve this qualification I have completed over 125 hours of coach training, 10 hours of coaching under the mentorship of another coach, sat a 3 hour exam based on coaching standards and practises and coached individuals for over 100 hours. As a practising coach, I have long past the 100 hours of coaching mark and this number continues to increase.
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I coach anyone regardless of background. LGBT+ friendliness is a fundamental value of my business and that is strongly trans inclusive. I coach from a wide variety of countries and cultures and understand that your unique experiences intersect with your neurodivergence and leadership. All of these topics with their intersection in your career are welcome in my coaching.
Got more questions?
My Purpose, serving you
Look, my background is in finance. When I started my coaching business I could have taken the easy route. I could have decided to coach people in finance and carried on living in that world.
But I am one of those neurodivergents with a strong sense of justice and the fact that neurodivergent individuals still face so many barriers in their career is something that I feel strongly about working to change. I want to do something meaningful with my life, something I can be proud of, and by enabling and empowering other neurodivergents to be amazing in their career, I know I will have an impact on not just them, but the other neurodivergents that follow in their footsteps.
By dismantling neurodivergent barriers in your career, you won’t just succeed, you’ll make it easier for the next neurodivergent leader in your organisation to do the same. Neurodivergent brains are amazing. And I want the world to know it.
