Penelope Ling is an award-winning solution-focused hypnotherapist specializing in phobias. She founded Penelope Ling Hypnotherapy and is the author of the book Driving me crazy – overcome the fear of driving. She regularly contributes to magazines like Happiful and guests on podcasts and BBC local radio.
Dyslexia, is often associated with challenges in reading and writing. My journey with dyslexia started as a child when I realized I couldn’t spell or structure grammar. Being told you’re stupid by family members and the occasional teacher could have stopped me from trying, but my creative skills and mathematical abilities reinforced I wasn’t stupid, just different. No tests existed back then, so I had to wait until I reached 19 for a diagnosis.
Dyslexia can also bring a range of positive traits
People with dyslexia often exhibit strengths in various areas because of their unique way of processing information. Here are some positive traits commonly associated with dyslexia:
1. Creativity
Dyslexic individuals often have strong creative abilities, excelling in art, music, and other creative pursuits. I was excellent at being able to visualise an object in front of me and draw it.
2. Problem-solving skills
We tackle problems creatively and come up with innovative solutions by considering different perspectives. If a company comes to a stalemate using your dyslexic employees to innovate can push you into a more productive field.
3. Big-picture thinking
Dyslexics often excel in understanding the bigger picture, and seeing connections and patterns that others might miss. While performing a task set by a management training programme, I could see the pattern before we received instructions, so I could complete it much faster than everybody else.
4. Storytelling ability
Many dyslexic individuals are natural storytellers, with a strong sense of narrative and the ability to communicate ideas vividly. Having a dyslexic person on your sales team could help sell your services more creatively.
5. Resilience
Overcoming the challenges associated with dyslexia can lead to strong resilience and determination. Once I knew I had this “Problem” I set out looking for solutions to help. Using technology, for example, like a Pro-writing aid, helps me keep check of grammar, spelling, and structure.
6. Empathy
Dyslexics often develop a deep sense of empathy and understanding of others’ struggles and challenges. My clients often say I seem to know what to say and questions to ask even before they tell me. They think it’s magic, but it’s about knowing how the brain works and how people respond to situations.
7. Strong verbal skills
While many struggle with written language, often dyslexics have strong verbal communication skills and excel in spoken presentations. This makes them excellent HR and sales employees within an organisation.
8. Spatial reasoning
Dyslexic people have excellent spatial reasoning skills, excelling in tasks that require an understanding of space and physical relationships, such as in engineering, architecture, and design. When I worked as a graphic designer within the newspaper industry, I also volunteered for shows and exhibitions so I could use these skills better than others.
9. Enhanced memory for stories
Dyslexics may have a remarkable ability to remember and recount stories and events, sometimes with vivid detail. Working with people in a trance, I create visualisations they connect with using paintings or photos in the clinic room. Clients diagnosed with dyslexia often enter a trance state quickly, possibly because they can visualise better.
10. Intuitive thinking
Dyslexic individuals often rely on intuition, which can lead to effective decision-making in complex situations. It also helps in developing relationships and the therapeutic alliance needed for therapy or other health-related industries like occupational health, and nursing.
11. Visual thinking
They often think in pictures rather than words, which can be a strength in fields like art, design, and architecture. When working with clients who struggle to prioritise instructions, I find mind mapping a viable way to get them how to solve problems. Visual representations of a problem can help them think laterally about solutions.
12. Determination
As dyslexic individuals face challenges, they often develop a strong work ethic and persistence, which leads to high motivation and determination. Their need to focus and work harder at school is often because of their limited reading or cognition skills. My peers thought I was a girly swot, when in truth I was hyper-focused to be able to work out what was being asked, which appeared so natural to the others.
13. Strong reasoning and logic
Dyslexics may excel in logical reasoning and understanding complex systems. Occupations such as logistics, engineering, mathematics, software development, and data analytics suit this way of thinking. When I was working in e-commerce, I could speed up processes by looking at separate parts of construction and writing mini programmes to link them together. It took a standard building of an Intershop construction from one week to two days.
14. Innovative
The dyslexic’s special way of looking at things often leads to revolutionary ideas and advancements in different fields. When I worked in the newspaper industry, the internet was only 4 years old. I could see how it would revolutionise communication and presented the directors with how they could be at the forefront of this technology and create more profit. They all considered it to be a fad and that only students would use it. In 1995, they had 300 staff working for the newspaper, now they have 15.
15. Leadership
Many dyslexics develop strong leadership skills, often driven by their empathy, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Reading Richard Branson’s autobiography “Losing my virginity” highlights how he overcame problems dyslexics face and turned them to an advantage. I followed his advice in writing everything down into notebooks. I find this helps me remember information much better than typing or keeping it electronically.
Change your shame to celebration
These traits illustrate how dyslexia can be associated with a range of strengths that contribute to success in various fields. If you think you may have dyslexia, getting a proper diagnosis can be helpful, as it means you can find ways of overcoming the problems it incurs and find technology to help. The workplace is a tough environment to navigate when those who set the rules don’t appreciate that dyslexic brains work differently. They’re not stupid. My message to HR or CEOs of companies is to utilise your dyslexic employees, which use their positive skills, not to criticise the flaws.
If you still feel shame or overwhelmed by these problems, stress can make things worse. Trying meditation or some hypnotherapy can help build your confidence up to find ways around the way your brain works. Viva la difference, the French say, and that’s so true with neuro issues.
If you wish to learn more, visit here and book a consultation with me today quoting “Brainz”.
Penelope Ling, Solution-focused Hypnotherapist
Penelope Ling BA is a solution-focused hypnotherapist and author. She became a specialist in phobias having many as a child and a fear of driving as an adult, which left her unable to drive for 13 years. Having conquered those fears during training, the decision to help others overcome their limitations was simple. She helps her clients overcome their fears, and phobias achieving a more fulfilling anxiety-free life.
