How to tell your Boss about Challenges with Working Memory

Dyslexia in Adults

Episode 82 - How to tell your Boss about Challenges with Working Memory

In this penultimate episode in the series of 'Working Memory' at work, we go through how communicate with your boss about the challenges of working memory.

Working memory affects everyone and people with dyslexia have a slightly reduce working memory capacity.

What does this mean?

But simply, working memory is that part of your brain which is supposed to hold multiple parts of information temporarily and re-call it when needed. An example of this in the work place might be, in a meeting with your team, or when in a training course.

We call it our brain's post-it note.

What does a reduced capacity look like in working memory?

A neurotypical brain would receive multiple parts of information, process it, organise is of where to store the information (long term memory, short term memory) and then re-call it when needed. A dyslexic brain would receive parts of information, miss other parts of information as you're still trying to process the last bits, store it in short term memory, start to process new information, and forget the last price which has been stored temporarily.

Sound like you?

Well, in this episode, we give you some tips to help navigate this challenge, and most critically advice and suggestions on how to communicate these challenges to your boss in a way which packages it in productive and positive manner.

We even provide you with a full scrip of what to say below...

**Asking for Help Via Email 1:**

Hello XX

I wanted to quickly discuss with you some options for approaching the team meeting that will help me complete my work faster and create more efficiency.

At the moment, our meetings are more like brainstorming sessions, where we often jump from topic to topic. How I process information means this unstructured approach can be overwhelming and does not allow me to contribute as fully as the team deserves.

Next week, would you mind if I created an agenda (with your approval) and we went topic by topic? This approach would allow the whole team to better prepare for our meetings, make note-taking easier, and create clearer, better follow-up after the meeting.

While our team meetings are not a big problem, I think this small shift might benefit the team and ensure we get the most out of our meetings.

Let me know what you think, and I’ll send a draft agenda.

YOUR NAME

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