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Think Fast | Talk Less: Dyslexia Dilemma
Is FOSO [Fear of Speaking Out] Holding You Back?
Claude Mudimbe
October 22, 2024
INTERIOR. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE - DAY
ALEX (12), a bright-eyed but nervous kid, sits across from PRINCIPAL STERN (50s), a strict-looking woman with glasses perched on her nose. Alex's MOM (40s) sits next to him, looking concerned.
PRINCIPAL STERN
(reviewing papers)
Alex, your test scores are... disappointing.
ALEX
(stammering)
I-I tried really hard, I promise.
MOM
He studies every night. I don't understand.
PRINCIPAL STERN
(sighs, takes off glasses)
Mrs. Johnson, I'm afraid Alex just isn't cut out for academic success. These scores...
(gestures at papers)
They speak for themselves.
ALEX
(voice quivering)
But I want to be a scientist when I grow up.
PRINCIPAL STERN
(coldly)
Alex, let's be realistic. With these grades, you'll never amount to anything in the sciences. It's best you start thinking about... simpler career paths.
Alex's face crumples. Tears well up in his eyes as he looks to his mom, who seems at a loss for words.
CUT TO:
EXTERIOR. SCHOOL - MOMENTS LATER
Alex walks out of the school, shoulders slumped. He pauses, looking up at the building that once held his dreams. With a deep breath, he turns and walks away, the weight of doubt now a constant companion.
FADE OUT
As a speaker, coach and consultant - I hear echoes of moments like these weekly.
Being underestimated early in life can make it hard to speak out as an adult.
Imagine carrying the weight of Principal Stern's words for decades?
FOSO: Fear of Speaking Out
FOSO is rooted in years of hyper-vigilance from being misunderstood and living in a world that often feels unforgiving.
As a LEX Pro (dyslexic professional), it can affect everyday life in a big way.
FOSO-LOGY
The experience of speaking out and being wrong is often more challenging for dyslexic and neurodivergent individuals than others.
FOSO is the hesitation before every meeting
FOSO is the silent voice that questions every decision
FOSO is the doubt that can cloud even the most familiar tasks
Existing in a life where, even when you're right, you question yourself is exhausting.
For LEX and other neurodivergents with historically higher levels of anxiety and depression, everyday situations can create a response similar to facing a life-or-death threat - due to a heightened perception of potential danger.
These intense reactions come from the fight-or-flight response, where even minor stressors provoke big ass emotional and physiological reactions.
The blowback from making a mistake can feel like an assassination of your character or even a direct threat to your very identity.
Overcoming the Fear of Speaking Out
⚡ Identifying, understanding, and naming your FOSO stressors is the first step towards overcoming them.
⚡ What specific situations, such as social events or interactions with bosses, colleagues, or clients, stir up your FOSO?
⚡ When and where does FOSO hit you the most?
The Juggle is Real
As a LEX profesh, you juggle reading complex documents, managing time-sensitive tasks, and navigating written communications with masking your challenges, advocating for accommodations, and constantly double-checking your work.
Give yourself some well-deserved credit!
▶️ What's 1 FOSO {Fear of Speaking Out} stressor you've conquered recently? ❇️ Take a moment to celebrate it. | ▶️ This week, challenge yourself to speak up in 1 situation where you'd normally stay silent. ❇️ Small hinges swing big doors. |
The content provided in the Powered by Dyslexia | Zone of Power™ newsletter is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical or therapeutic advice.
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