Clear Communication & Coaching: Essential Tools for Neuro-inclusive Change

Change is one of the most talked-about, and feared, parts of organisational life. But while strategy, structure, and systems tend to get all the attention, it’s how we communicate and support people that determines whether change will succeed.

In this second blog of our four-part series on neuroinclusive change, we explore two critical enablers of successful, inclusive transformation: clear communication and coaching. Both are especially vital when supporting neurodivergent team members, and both can dramatically reduce resistance, stress, and misunderstanding.

Why Clarity is Key

For neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with autism, vague language can create real obstacles. Where others may infer meaning or intention, an autistic person may not.

Let’s take this example:

“Wouldn’t it be great if you wrote up the notes from this meeting?”

To a neurotypical colleague, that might sound like a gentle suggestion. To an autistic person, it might simply register as a rhetorical comment. They might agree it would be great, but not realise it was a request. When the task doesn’t get done, frustration follows.

Instead, say:

“Can you write up the notes from this meeting by 3pm tomorrow? That way, we can include them in the weekly update.”

This version is clear, direct, time-bound and includes the why, which is crucial for buy-in.

Why Coaching Creates Space for Understanding

Coaching supports both sides of the change equation. For neurodivergent employees, coaching can offer:

• Clarity about what’s changing and why

• Space to explore how it affects them

• Strategies to manage the transition and maintain performance

For managers and change leaders, coaching can help them:

• Understand unexpected responses or behaviours

• Reframe assumptions

• Develop language and strategies that reduce tension

A manager doesn’t need to know, or guess, whether someone is neurodivergent. But they do need to notice when someone is struggling and offer practical support. Instead of speculating, they can say:

“I can see this part of the change seems challenging, how can I support you with it?”

This approach is inclusive, respectful, and proactive. It supports the individual without needing a label.

Emotional Responses: Rejection Sensitivity and Miscommunication

Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) is a term many leaders are still unfamiliar with, but it’s common among people with ADHD and other neurodivergent profiles. It means that even small cues - such as a perceived shift in tone, facial expression, or criticism - can feel intensely personal.

In a change setting, where uncertainty is high and relationships are shifting, RSD can result in:

• Strong emotional reactions

• Avoidance or shutdown

• Sudden departures from meetings or conversations

These responses can be misunderstood as overreaction or even hostility. Coaching helps both parties understand these moments for what they are: emotional responses to perceived threat, not a lack of professionalism.

The Science Behind It

Neurodivergent brains often process information and emotion differently and understanding this can shift the whole tone of your change programme.

In Neuroscience for Organizational Change, Hilary Scarlett explores how the brain responds to uncertainty, threat, and communication style. Her work shows why clarity, predictability, and autonomy are essential for any human, and even more so for neurodivergent individuals.

Learn more and order your copy here: Neuroscience for Organizational Change – Kogan Page

Use code NEW20 for 20% off your first order.

Take It Further

At Inclusive Change, we provide tailored coaching for neurodivergent individuals and their managers during times of transition. We also offer training for leaders on how to embed clear, inclusive communication into their change programmes from day one.

Find out more at inclusivechange.co.uk

Coming next: Technology, Empathy Mapping, and Profiling Tools: Designing Change That Works for Every Brain