How Dyslexia Helps My Business

How dyslexia has shaped the way I work, often for the better.

I’ve always known I’m dyslexic. That wasn’t a surprise. But for a long time, I only really associated it with what felt difficult, spelling, long texts, reading out loud. It wasn’t until much later that I began to recognise the advantages. Not in a sweeping, inspirational way, just in the small, consistent patterns of how I naturally approach things.

And more and more, I’ve come to see how those patterns shape how I work, how I build systems, make decisions, and lead teams.

Seeing the shape of things

My brain is naturally wired to look for structure. I’m analytical, but not in a spreadsheet-heavy way, more in the sense of always stepping back to ask: how does this all fit together?

I tend to spot patterns quickly, notice when something feels off, or sense when a system is more complicated than it needs to be. That instinct has helped me in many areas of business, but it started, I think, as a way of managing how I process information.

Workarounds that became strengths

When you grow up dyslexic, you get used to finding your own way. You learn to rephrase things, to explain aloud rather than write it all down, to trust your gut when the “standard” route feels clunky. What starts as a coping mechanism often becomes a way of thinking, one that’s practical, flexible, and not afraid of a blank page.

That mindset has stayed with me. I don’t mind starting from scratch if something’s not working. I don’t get too stuck in the way things are “usually done.” And I’m always looking for how to make things clearer or more intuitive, for myself, and for others.

Knowing where I work best

One thing dyslexia teaches you early is that you don’t need to be good at everything. And that lesson has served me well. I’m very clear on the areas where I add the most value, and just as clear on where I need support.

That’s helped me build strong teams. I work with people who are brilliant at the detail, who enjoy the parts I find less natural. That clarity makes collaboration easier, and allows everyone to operate in their strengths.

Leadership, clarity and empathy

Because I know what it feels like to be misunderstood, or to need information in a different format, I’ve learned to lead with a bit more empathy. I try to make things clear. I avoid overcomplicating. I create systems that people can actually use, not ones that look good on paper but fail in practice.

That’s not a business philosophy, necessarily, just a way of working that’s shaped by experience.

I didn’t build my business around being dyslexic. But I can see, now, how much of my approach, to strategy, to systems, to people, has been influenced by it. And I’ve come to appreciate that thinking differently isn’t something to overcome. It’s something to work with.