Justin Nelson of JP Morgan Explains Structured Management Approach

Managing a neurodiverse team member well starts with clarity, according to Justin Nelson. The JP Morgan managing director has described a straightforward framework for supporting employees on the autism spectrum, and it centers on how work is assigned and explained.

Nelson heads the Asset Management and Financial Principals Coverage Team at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Connecticut. His group manages more than $15 billion in assets, so he knows how much depends on accurate, well-organized work.

Tasks Over Broad Objectives

His first recommendation concerns project management. Instead of handing out general goals and expecting employees to fill in the gaps, managers should divide work into specific tasks. Context matters too. “You have to assign tasks and ensure that they understand how this fits into a larger plan or set of rules,” Nelson advises.

This approach gives neurodiverse employees a clear map of expectations. Many of them, Justin Nelson JP Morgan observes, perform with great exactness when they understand the boundaries they are working within.

Why the Effort Pays Off

The payoff, he says, can be considerable. “If you can lay out the rules and know how to work and communicate with that group of people, you probably have some of your best employees.” Managers who invest in that communication may find they have built one of the most dependable parts of their team.

Justin Nelson also stresses that the process has to change before an offer is made. Communication is typically the biggest obstacle for neurodiverse candidates, which makes standard interviews especially difficult.

Outside the office, he works with Adelphi University’s Bridges Program and with Broad Futures, which helps employers run programs to select neurodiverse candidates. His overall message to JP Morgan peers and the wider industry is that modest adjustments in hiring and supervision can yield highly capable staff. Those adjustments ask more of managers at the outset, but they help neurodiverse employees understand precisely what success looks like. Read this article for more information.

More about Justin Nelson JP Morgan on https://about.me/justin-nelson