2025 Schedule

You may recognize that the name of this session is taken from Dunder Mifflin Scranton Regional Manager Michael Scott's attempt at writing a book on leadership. The long-running NBC sitcom, 'The Office', was a phenomenon that drew massive viewership for nearly a decade – and binge-watched by millions for over a decade more. Many viewers and critics thought the show would lose its appeal once the romantic storyline that dominated the first few seasons reached its closure. But its ratings dominance persisted well beyond the Niagara Falls wedding of Pam and Jim.

Some of the mass appeal that helped sustain this hit was its diverse cast and the uniquely distinct aspects of the characters. A central and recurring theme – though never explicitly stated about any of the characters – was neurodiversity. It could easily be argued that various characters in the show presented behaviors representative of a variety of neurodivergent traits - including autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder, narcissism, and Tourette's syndrome.

As leaders it is sometimes difficult to spot neurodivergence in our team members. But to ensure that our diversity programs extend to these "hidden disabilities" it is incumbent on us to educate ourselves so we can support our neurodiverse team. Some of the most cringeworthy – and even some of the most heartwarming – scenes from 'The Office' will be used to illustrate the types of behaviors that may help us to recognize neurodivergence.

Join Doug Rabold, himself a neurodivergent leader, for an exploration of this critical topic in "An American Workplace."

Takeaway

1) Identify common types of "hidden disabilities" under the neurodivergent umbrella
2) Memorable examples of 'Office' behaviors that may signal neurodivergence
3) Neurodivergent individuals can be key contributors to (and even effective leaders of) a team