I have Asperger's Syndrome. I also have a job now that is heavily reliant on brief encounters with new and regular customers on a daily basis.
The way I have learned to deal with my social struggles in quick situations like this, is to mimic those I am interacting with, or I take what my co-workers do and try to repeat what they say to the customers when I work alone.
Unfortunately, this isnt always the best way to go about things, as I've learned the hard way. So I've had to try different ways of approaching my situation which comes so easily to my co-workers and causes me frustration.
I'm expected to greet everyone who comes in, and express some false interest in how their day is going.
But I just can't do it most of the time, a person comes in, and like a slow running computer, my brain tries to search my internal data base of how a normal person would handle the situation and process it through my mouth into words. By the time Ive gathered what I should say and do, I've missed my chance, the stranger takes it as me being rude, and I become stressed, I'm fairly sure I actually show a facial expression of complete distress despite how neutral I try to remain in the situation, I'm always caught, which leads to more misinterpretation by the customer that I'm just being an unpleasant a**hole.
While this is only a small example of the issue, I'm not going to go into extensive detail. I just need to know, how do I act like the typical normal pleasant sales associate that everyone else is so naturally able to be. I know what Im supposed to say, and how Im supposed to say it, but I cant seem to match it up with the right timing, expression, vocal tone or even do it at all.
I've had complaints and been talked to by my employer regarding them, while my work ethic is excellent I fail miserably in the social part which is extremely important.
Even the socially crippled need to pay rent.
24 Jan 2009, 1:26 am
