Building Your Business Without Masking Your True Self

For most of my life, I thought success in business meant learning to be someone I wasn't. I believed I needed to network like an extrovert, communicate like a neurotypical person, and hide any signs that my brain worked differently from everyone else's.

The result? Constant exhaustion, imposter syndrome, and a business that felt like I was wearing a costume that never quite fit.

Then I made a decision that changed everything: I stopped masking in my business. And you know what happened? My business actually got better.

The Hidden Cost of Masking in Business

When we mask our neurodivergent traits in business, we're essentially running two full-time jobs:

1. Actually doing the work

2. Pretending to be someone else while doing it

This leads to:

• Burnout from the constant mental effort

• Attracting clients who aren't a good fit for the real you

• Imposter syndrome because you feel like you're living a lie

• Inconsistent messaging because you can't keep up the performance

  
  

What Unmasking in Business Actually Looks Like

Being Honest About Your Communication Preferences

Instead of forcing yourself to take phone calls when you process information better in writing, let clients know you prefer email for complex discussions. Most people appreciate clear communication preferences.

Working With Your Energy Patterns

If you're most productive at 10pm, stop apologising for not being a morning person. Schedule your deep work for when your brain is actually functioning at its best.

Sharing Your Processes Openly

When I tell clients that I need written briefs because I process information better that way, they don't see it as a limitation - they see it as thoroughness. Frame your needs as business practices, not personal quirks.

Celebrating Your Unique Strengths

My hyperfocus means I can solve complex problems in ways others might not think of. My attention to detail catches mistakes others miss. Your neurodivergent traits are business superpowers, not flaws to hide.

Reframing "Professional" to Include You

The business world's definition of "professional" has been shaped by neurotypical norms, but professional really just means:

• Delivering quality work on time

• Communicating clearly with clients

• Being reliable and trustworthy

• Treating people with respect

None of these require you to:

• Make constant eye contact

• Engage in small talk

• Attend every networking event

• Suppress your stims or fidgets

• Pretend to be interested in things that bore you

  
  

Building Systems That Work FOR You

Client Communication

Create clear processes that play to your strengths. If you struggle with phone calls, use detailed email briefs and follow-up summaries. If you're better at explaining things verbally, offer video calls instead of written proposals.

Scheduling and Time Management

Stop trying to fit into a 9-5 schedule if your brain doesn't work that way. Build your calendar around your natural energy patterns and cognitive peaks.

Networking and Marketing

Traditional networking events might be your personal nightmare, but one-to-one coffee meetings might be perfect. Online networking might feel more comfortable than in-person events. Find what works and lean into it.

Setting Boundaries Like a Pro

Successful unmasking requires strong boundaries:

• "I do my best work when I have detailed written briefs"

• "I'm most responsive to emails between 10am and 2pm"

• "I prefer to discuss complex topics over email rather than phone calls"

• "I take a lunch break every day to maintain my focus"

These aren't limitations - they're professional standards that help you deliver better work.

The Clients You'll Attract

When you stop masking, you might worry about losing potential clients, but what actually happens is you stop attracting the wrong clients and start attracting the right ones:

• Clients who value your unique approach

• People who appreciate clear, direct communication

• Those who understand that different doesn't mean less professional

• Clients who become long-term partners because they genuinely like working with you

  
  

Handling Pushback

Not everyone will understand your unmasked approach, and that's okay. When someone expects you to be someone you're not:

• Remember that they're not your ideal client anyway

• Focus on the clients who do appreciate your authentic self

• Use their reaction as valuable information about whether you want to work with them

  
  

The Freedom on the Other Side

Building a business without masking means:

• More energy for actual work instead of performance

• Consistent, sustainable productivity

• Genuine client relationships built on who you really are

• A business that feels like an extension of yourself, not a costume you wear

  
  

Start Small

You don't have to unmask everything at once. Pick one area where you've been masking heavily and start there. Maybe it's how you prefer to communicate with clients, or being honest about your working hours, or sharing one aspect of how your neurodivergent brain approaches problems.

Your business needs your authentic self - all the parts of you, including the neurodivergent ones. The world has plenty of masked professionals trying to fit the same mould. What it lacks is authentic people bringing their unique perspectives to their work.

What's one way you've been masking in your business that you could start changing today? I'd love to support you in that journey.