Managing with dyslexia as an internal communicator

In 2008, I was diagnosed with dyslexia. It was flagged by a university tutor after my submission of a couple of assignments. I completed an initial screening and then undertook a full diagnosis. I remember feeling a mix of frustration, embarrassment and anger. Why hadn’t it been picked up soon? Surely I would have grown out of it.

Fast forward to 2026. My career has taken me on a journey through hospitality, customer service and into the wonderful world of internal communication. During this time, I never considered how dyslexia might be impacting my day-to-day work. Perhaps it was denial, perhaps I forgot about it or likely a mixture of both. There was likely a thought about how a communication professional can have dyslexia.

I’m fortunate to work in a supportive team. We’ve all learnt about neurodiversity, both for personal and professional reasons. After starting an evening college course in 2025, I sought the support of a study coach, who has helped me recognise (and accept) that I still, and likely always will, have dyslexia.

From these conversations, I’ve learnt more about myself in terms of how I work and why. The main reflection is that I’ve put into place coping mechanisms over the years, mostly without realising it.

Another moment of realisation was when I saw several references to how dyslexia can make us feel:

• Micro-anxiety throughout the day – caused by constant checking, masking and overthinking about everything you’re doing.
• Constant mental focus – it can take more effort and energy to decode everything, even if you don’t know you’re doing it.
• Overcompensating – putting into place workarounds to prevent embarrassment or worry.

These resonate with me. I now understand that many of my ways of working have developed over time to compensate for how my brain functions. For example, listening to audio (such as podcasts) isn’t effective for my learning, but if I print, read and write my own notes from a transcript or summary, I retain knowledge more effectively. We provide full show notes of Rachel’s Candid Comms podcast.

Many people associate dyslexia with a disorder that affects reading, writing and spelling. The iceberg drawing below shows the above surface symptoms typically associated with dyslexia, yet under the surface, it can have a greater impact that we don’t always see.

It can have negative impacts, but it can also bring cognitive strengths, such as the ability to see the bigger picture. This has become a strength I draw on when working with clients, whether during an internal communication audit, coaching and mentoring calls or team days.

I’m now aware that during meetings and sessions, capturing notes, whether on a flipchart or a notepad, helps my thought process. This also reinforces the importance during training sessions to consider the different learning styles we have, providing a variety of resources to support everyone.

Now, this next technique might sound odd at first but stay with me. I turn off spelling and grammar tools when writing. I discovered with my study coach that these have become a distraction. Rather than waiting till I’ve completed a section of writing and then reviewing, I was correcting errors as they appeared, breaking my flow and thought process. It meant I wasn’t reflecting on the change, but instead, allowing my anxiety to take over, feeling the pressure of those little red and blue lines under words.

The use of a yellow colour filter for my computer screen helps. It reduces visual stress on my eyes and helps improve readability. Everyone is different, so please take professional advice, but there are more accessibility features available to help.

Do I still feel frustrated, embarrassed or angry? Mostly no. There are occasions when I get a little frustrated with myself, but I now understand why. Resources from organisations including the British Dyslexia Association, and the support of a coach have been invaluable. I’m also grateful to have wonderful colleagues in Rachel, Louise and Jon.

Chartered PR practitioner Dan Holden is a communication consultant at All Things IC, where this blog was first published, and a Fellow of the CIPR.