Precision and Neurodiversity: Justin Nelson’s View From JP Morgan

Overseeing more than $15 billion in client assets leaves little room for error. Justin Nelson knows this well. He is Managing Director and Head of the Asset Management and Financial Principals Coverage Team at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Connecticut, and he believes neurodiverse employees can be especially well suited to work that demands exactness.

Rules, Frameworks, and Results

Nelson’s view rests on a simple observation. Many people on the autism spectrum perform extremely well inside a clearly defined framework. When the expectations and rules are spelled out, he says, they tend to be among the best employees an organization has.

Getting there requires deliberate management. Rather than issuing open-ended objectives, supervisors should hand out specific assignments and explain where each one belongs in the bigger picture. “You have to assign tasks and ensure that they understand how this fits into a larger plan or set of rules,” Nelson says.

This style of oversight helps employees and employers alike. Staff members know exactly what is expected, and managers gain consistent, detailed output.

Looking Past the Interview

The JP Morgan managing director also acknowledges the hurdle that comes first. Communication is often difficult for neurodiverse candidates, and traditional interviews can screen them out before anyone sees their abilities. Those abilities can be impressive. Justin Nelson JP Morgan describes many neurodiverse individuals as highly creative, with computational skills that exceed the norm.

“Employers really need to change how they think about engaging with these people,” he says.

Justin Nelson supports that shift through his involvement with Broad Futures, a charity that helps employers learn about neurodiversity and select candidates, and with Adelphi University’s Bridges Program for high-functioning students. His recommendations for financial services firms are modest in cost: adjust hiring, structure the work, and partner with experts. For a JP Morgan leader responsible for detailed financial work, the potential reward is a team built on precision. Visit this page for additional information.

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