Client Success Story: Jordan
Unlocking Potential: Discovering Learning Strategies and Brain Insights After TBI
Approximately 2.8 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) annually. An estimated 5.3 million people are living with a permanent brain injury related disability. Individuals and employees struggle with adjusting the changes in how their brain works immensely post TBI (Brain Injury Association of America, 2024). They often find more challenges with their executive function areas such as memory retention, task initiation, emotional regulation, decision making, communication, and the stress management as they come to terms with the new way that their brain processes information.
In this blog post, we'll navigate an inspirational story of a successful director at a large tech company that gained tools and strategies from workplace coaching to overcome the barriers they post TBI. We’ll also explore the process of workplace coaching which helped the employee to identify and understand the new way their brain functions. By exploring their journey, you’ll uncover how coaching can successfully support individuals navigating similar obstacles. To maintain the client’s privacy, we’ll refer to them as Jordan. Let’s delve into Jordan’s workplace coaching experience:
Navigating TBI: Overcoming Workplace Barriers
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) creates distinct workplace challenges, requiring individuals to adapt to new ways of thinking, learning, and working. Many individuals have shared the recovery process after a TBI as relearning their brain and its functions based on their "new normal." Cognitive difficulties like memory lapses, slowed processing, and attention issues can affect performance, while emotional changes may strain communication and teamwork. Employers and coworkers often struggle to accommodate these invisible obstacles, hindering inclusion. However, with tailored coaching, adaptive strategies, and a compassionate workplace, individuals with TBI can overcome barriers and thrive.
In this success story, Jordan, a director at a large company, overcame a learning disability in high school but faced resurfacing executive function challenges after a sustaining a TBI after a major accident. Returning to work, they struggled with lost coping mechanisms, diminished confidence, and the changes in their brain's processing. Fear of sharing their new reality led to masking behaviors, which drained their energy throughout the workday.
Jordan's Transformative Journey through Workplace Coaching
After returning to work from sustaining a TBI, Jordan began to experience cognitive challenges that diminished her confidence in her ability to maintain her work. Her speech therapist suggested she connect with her workplace accommodations team to explore reasonable accommodations to support her. After discussing accommodations options with her SLP and accommodation specialist, the team determined that Workplace Coaching would be the best fit.
The workplace coaching process is aimed at helping individuals enhance cognitive skills like organization, time management, decision-making, and emotional regulation. It supports individuals in identifying challenges related to executive functioning and equips them with strategies to improve productivity, focus, and problem-solving abilities. By fostering self-awareness and accountability, workplace coaching enables employees to optimize their performance and navigate complex work environments more effectively.
Jordan began the workplace coaching process immediately requesting support in time/energy management, stress management, focus, and identifying supports that can help with the new way her brain works.
Personalized Strategies for Success
The workplace coach collaborated with Jordan to develop tailored strategies that catered specifically to her needs, then modified them in sessions based on the effectiveness. Here are some key approaches that proved to help support:
Energy Management: Coming back from an extended leave of absence, Jordan gradually increased her hours in incremental steps. She struggled with increasing her energy, as she noticed it took her longer to complete all her tasks prior to the TBI. Working with her coach she began to track her energy levels throughout the week to determine any themes that were causing her energy to deplete faster. They discussed ways to limit or transition from masking to help build more energy into her day.
Identifying and Self-Advocating Needs: She identified that she was taking on more work than she could handle and worked with her coach to improve her impulse control to say yes to all asks and developed scripts for setting boundaries at work. They navigated potential accommodation or support that would help them overcome some of the challenges at work and discussed how to communicate that with their manager and their Accommodation Specialist. Jordan was nervous to share she had a disability because she had a new manager. In coaching she explored ways to share her challenges instead of explaining her disability. This helped Jordan to build trust with her manager and eventually she was comfortable enough to disclose with him more about her new diagnosis and how she was learning how best her brain works.
Limiting Context Switching: Jordan prior to her TBI had been able to easily switch from task to task but was now finding context switching to be difficult for her during her workday, often causing more fatigue and distractions. With her coaches' support she implemented visual reminders of where she left off on tasks and worked through time blocking her calendar to limit the amount of context switching throughout the day.
Emotional Regulation: Finding new difficulties in tasks that were ways for Jordan to complete, became very frustrating for her. She often had difficulties regulating her emotions on her return to work. She worked with her coach on how to de-escalate her emotions in the moment by using breathing and grounding techniques and scripts to communicate her need to pause during meetings.
Experiencing Growth and Transformation
Jordan's journey of growth and transformation was nothing short of extraordinary and life-changing. During this time, she uncovered a second disability and received a formal diagnosis of ADHD, offering clarity and a deeper understanding of herself. As her coaching process progressed, Jordan learned to utilize practical tools from coaching to manage her energy more effectively, regulate her emotions, and minimize context switching, which helped her maintain focus and stay grounded. This surge in confidence empowered her to take bold steps, including applying for new roles and exploring new opportunities. Her newfound self-assurance also enabled her to advocate for her needs confidently, openly share her neurodivergent identity with her manager and team and create a supportive environment where she could thrive.
Next Steps on the Journey
Jordan's journey highlights the transformative power of workplace coaching for individuals facing TBI and executive function challenges. For those navigating similar obstacles, take heart—you are not alone. With the right guidance and tools, new opportunities can emerge, reshaping your path forward.
Turning personal barriers into steppingstones is the foundation for unlocking your true potential at work. Embracing workplace coaching isn't just about overcoming challenges—it's about empowering yourself to excel and thrive in your career.
Recap and Reflection
Jordan’s journey serves as a powerful example of how effective coaching can lead to personal growth and professional success. By applying the right strategies, we can enhance our work habits and create a supportive environment where everyone can excel. Seeking help is a sign of strength and a step toward unlocking your full potential. If you're prepared to break through your barriers and unlock the power of workplace coaching, schedule a FREE consultation with us today!
References:
Brain Injury Association of America. (2024, March). Brain Injury Community pushes for recognition of brain injury as a chronic health condition. Brain Injury Community Pushes for Recognition of Brain Injury as a Chronic Health Condition. https://biausa.org/public-affairs/public-awareness/news/brain-injury-community-pushes-for-recognition-of-brain-injury-as-a-chronic-health-condition
