Episode 261: 3 Ways To Support Your Neurodivergent Clients with Megan Dowd

Building an inclusive and accessible brand is so important, so today we’re chatting about how you can support your neurodivergent clients. After Megan Dowd received her own ADHD diagnosis, she began exploring how she could set her own brand therapy business up to support other clients like herself. In today’s episode, she is sharing three ways that you can support your neurodivergent clients through a human first, business second approach. If today’s episode resonates with you and you want to show support for the show, here’s an easy way to do so: Buy Me A Coffee! Brand Therapist Megan Dowd is a neurodiverse entrepreneur, business strategist, coach, and storyteller. With her Human First, Biz Second® approach, she is helping new and seasoned business owners build a better human connection with themselves and their clients — leaning into who they are and what they stand for. After nearly a decade as a professional actress and becoming a Jill-of-all-trades in that industry, Megan decided to go into business for herself. There she learned that the skills she acquired in acting reciprocated into business. She started MD&Co in 2018 and celebrates leveraging her client’s strengths, transparency, values, and building a connection. She also built Hello, CEO in 2020 to help support neurodiverse entrepreneurs discover where they can thrive in a business world that isn’t one size fits all. Megan is also the founder of the original Spicy Soapbox™, where she candidly discusses an array of topics. When she’s not helping entrepreneurs run their businesses seamlessly, you will find her drinking cold brew, cuddling fluffy cats, and eating plenty of snacks! Megan’s ADHD Diagnosis For years, Megan saw a therapist for her anxiety and depression. She was managing it well and taking the steps to take care of herself. It wasn’t until Megan had a friend diagnosied with ADHD that a lightbulb went off for her. It wasn’t long before Megan was also diagnosed with ADHD—which she’s fully embraced. With ADHD, her brain is not only chemically different, but it’s built a little different. It’s not good or bad, it just is. She’s always felt passionate about working with neurodivergent humans, who think a little differently and work a little differently—in the past she just simply didn’t have the language to describe this type of client. Now she helps them build a business with services that work best for their brains. 3 Ways To Support Your Neurodivergent Clients As Megan has learned more about her own neurodivergence and ADHD, she was able to clarify her messaging for who she enjoys working with. For many neurodivergent humans, frameworks don’t necessarily work unilaterally like you’d want. This took her on a journey to learning better ways to suppor neurodivergent clients. Your business model to follow: human first, business second. Be clear and direct in your expectations. Be clear and direct in your expectations, whether it is how you work or what you want from your clients. This simple, direct communication helps guide your neurodivergent clients in working well with you. Approaching the expectations for any client with direct communication is valuable for your business. You could even take it a step further and send a welcome guide or client-only landing page that is a reference for those expectations. In addition, share how you prefer to communicate and/or give your clients the opti...