Developing an Other-Focus

(neuro)Diversifying organizations: The case for developing autistic leaders.

“…Because our participants cited flexibility and perspective-taking as skills that many developing leaders struggle with, adding an other-oriented developmental aspect to the model would allow one to practice both perspective-taking and cognitive flexibility by developing challenge plans and coaching another individual under controlled (less anxiety-producing) conditions while going through the process of being coached themselves. Engaging in these processes concurrently involves balancing self- and other-awareness, as well as focusing on another’s developmental needs, goals, and challenges (Bragger et al, 2022). The match between the developing autistic leader and the individual they are developing can change over the course of development.…”

“…The traditional ACS model involves placing a developing leader through a leadership assessment, using the results of said assessment to develop a challenge plan, and supporting the developing leader through the process (Van Velsor et al, 2010). Bragger et al (2021Bragger et al ( , 2022 suggested expanding this model by proposing that along the same (or a similar) timeline, the developing leader coaches a follower through the ACS process. Because our participants cited flexibility and perspective-taking as skills that many developing leaders struggle with, adding an other-oriented developmental aspect to the model would allow one to practice both perspective-taking and cognitive flexibility by developing challenge plans and coaching another individual under controlled (less anxiety-producing) conditions while going through the process of being coached themselves.…”

“…One example of this would be to require developing leaders to be responsible for developing a less developed leader simultaneously to their own leadership development. Bragger et al (2021Bragger et al ( , 2022 proposed building on an existing assessment, challenge, and support (ACS) model (Van Velsor et al, 2010) of leadership development by incorporating an integrated mentee-ship and mentorship component into the leadership-development process. The traditional ACS model involves placing a developing leader through a leadership assessment, using the results of said assessment to develop a challenge plan, and supporting the developing leader through the process (Van Velsor et al, 2010).…”