Think Differently with Dr. Theresa Haskins

Send us Fan MailMost organizations ask the wrong first question about neuroinclusion. They want to understand autism, ADHD, and other forms of neurodivergence—but Dr. Theresa Haskins argues that's not where lasting change begins. In this episode of Think Differently, she explains why the most inclusive organizations focus first on leadership, culture, and psychological safety, creating workplaces where everyone can contribute at their best. If you've ever wondered what separates organizations that talk about inclusion from those that live it, this episode may leave you thinking differently about where neuroinclusion really starts.

Send us Fan MailMost people don't mind wearing a uniform. What they mind is discovering they can never take it off. Every workplace asks us to adapt. We learn the culture, the expectations, and the unwritten rules that help organizations function. But where is the line between adapting to the job and being asked to become someone else?In this episode, Dr. Theresa Haskins explores that fine line through the lens of workplace culture, professionalism, and what she calls toxic acculturation. From dress codes and customer service scripts to hairstyles, masking, and workplace expectations, she asks a simple but important question: Is this how we need to work, or are we asking people to change who they are just to fit our idea of what's acceptable? Because sometimes what looks like professionalism is good business, and sometimes it's something else entirely.

Send us Fan MailCommunication seems simple. We talk. People listen. They understand. Except that's not always what happens. In this episode of Think Differently, Dr. Theresa Haskins talks about how the same words can carry completely different meanings depending on who's hearing them—and why that matters more than most of us realize. If you've ever given advice that backfired, managed someone who seemed to misunderstand a simple direction, or been told your communication style was the problem, this episode may leave you thinking differently about what it really means to say what you mean.

Send us Fan MailMany of us spend years adapting to the people and environments around us. But there is a difference between adapting, hiding, and masking—and understanding that difference may change how you think about yourself, your workplace, and the people around you. In this episode of Think Differently, Dr. Theresa Haskins explores the hidden costs of fitting in, why some adaptations help us thrive while others lead to burnout, and what organizations lose when it's not safe to be yourself. Through the lens of neurodiversity, leadership, and workplace culture, she examines how people learn to adjust, conceal, or disguise parts of themselves to belong—and why those distinctions matter. If you have ever felt pressure to become a more acceptable version of yourself, or wondered whether your employees feel this way, this conversation offers a different way to think about authenticity, belonging, and the cost of fitting in.

Send us Fan MailA new manager arrives. Your work gets reduced to your current role. Your history, your ideas, your potential — invisible.In this episode, Dr. Theresa Haskins names what's really happening when leadership stops seeing you — and why it's not a verdict on your talent, even when it feels that way. Drawing on nearly three decades of corporate experience, she shares two real stories that show how the same situation can end two very different ways depending on whether a leader bothers to ask.If you've ever been overlooked, underestimated, or reduced to a title, this one is for you. Dr. Haskins walks through exactly what to do — from naming the pattern, to having the right conversation, to knowing when to pivot and when to leave.The problem was never your capability. It was their willingness to see it.

Send us Fan MailWe're often told that inclusion starts with awareness and empathy. But what happens when the people we love most are the same people our systems would quietly screen out? In this episode, Dr. Theresa Haskins explores the uncomfortable gap between loving neurodivergent people personally and creating real opportunities for them professionally. From hallway conversations with parents and leaders to hiring rooms where "fit" often outweighs capability, she examines how workplaces continue to confuse social performance with actual potential. The question isn't whether neurodivergent people exist in your life. The question is whether they'd get a chance in the rooms you're responsible for.

Send us Fan MailWe’re often told that when everything slows down, we should feel better. That once the deadlines are over and the pressure lifts, relief will follow.But what if that’s not actually how it works?In this episode, Dr. Theresa Haskins explores what happens in the space between high pressure and supposed rest—when the structure that’s been holding everything together suddenly disappears, and your brain doesn’t follow. This is especially relevant for neurodistinct individuals, whose ability to function is often closely tied to routine, urgency, and external demands.She also reflects on the tension between needing a break… and not knowing how to exist without the structure that made everything work. Because sometimes, it’s not about doing more—or doing less. It’s about learning how to land when everything finally stops.

Send us Fan MailWe’re often told that if we work hard, follow the process, and do everything “right,” opportunity will follow. But what if that’s not actually how it works?In this episode, Dr. Theresa Haskins explores the gap between effort and access—the reality that some opportunities don’t come from the path at all, but from being seen by the right people at the right time. This is especially relevant for neurodivergent individuals, whose strengths don’t always show up clearly in traditional systems or processes.She also reflects on the tension between masking to fit… and what happens when someone is recognized without having to perform. Because sometimes, it’s not about doing more. It’s about whether anyone is actually looking.

Send us Fan MailWe've all heard it. Try harder. Work harder. Push through. And sometimes that's true — effort matters. But for a lot of people, especially those with ADHD, autism, or different neurological wiring, trying harder isn't the problem. It never was. In this episode, Dr. Theresa Haskins makes the case that when effort stops producing results, it's rarely about capability or drive — it's about alignment. It's about being asked to work in a system that was never designed for your brain. If you've ever felt like you were working twice as hard as everyone else and still coming up short, this episode is for you.

Send us Fan MailWe say we value difference. But when someone works differently than we do, we often treat it as a problem.In this episode, Dr. Theresa Haskins explores why “different” so quickly becomes “deficient” in the workplace — especially when we over-index on process, presence, and personality instead of outcomes. Autism isn’t ADHD. ADHD isn’t PTSD. Yet the leadership practices that support people are often the same: clarity, structure, written expectations, and psychological safety.The real issue isn’t diagnosis. It’s design.When we wait for disclosure before improving systems, we reveal how narrow those systems are. Inclusive leadership isn’t about lowering standards — it’s about widening the path so more than one way of working can lead to excellence.Because there is more than one way to be effective.