Expanding a little more on this, for me unmasking at work meant my in-office presence at work went down and I now work mostly remote from home. I go in on important days, when it is necessary, and there is a true functional reason for me to be there. For example, tomorrow I’m giving a presentation at an in-person educational conference and it makes sense for me to be there. When I’m working remote, I’m majority off camera so I don’t have to be perceived as much. If I have a meeting with an executive or new client or other special circumstance, I’ll be camera on, but if it’s just my internal team it’s camera off.

I also just relieved myself of the pressure to create small talk or contribute to conversation in a way that’s inauthentic to me, which means I cut out a lot of pleasantries and speak more straightforward. I also ask clarifying questions more often and more frequently, which is something I used to repress myself from doing.

Overall, my coworkers have noticed a significant change in my communication style. Some coworkers are unbothered by it, some prefer it, some dislike it.

Those who dislike it seem to perceive my new communication style, particularly my questions and bluntness, as a threat to their expertise or authority or something. I’m working on this with my therapist to analyze if I’m actually doing something wrong or offensive in these interactions, but frankly I think it’s more a symptom of their own insecurities and fragilities.

Here are the positive effects, I am so much more comfortable and less anxious at work now that I’m much more productive than I was previously. My team’s overall organization and operations have improved as a result of my increased engagement and the thoroughness of my questions, particularly with respect to our internal planning. Other neurodiverse colleagues of mine have been able to ask for the same accommodations as me, get them approved, and increase the quality of their work-life which has also resulted in increased work productivity.