Retail sales and Aspergers.
The art of conversation can be broken down into a number of elements. knowing when it's your turn to speak. understanding the topic of conversation. building rapport. knowing when it's time to end. I worked in retail from quite a young age. As an undiagnosed Aspergers sufferer, thinking back, this might be the perfect environment to start social skills and to advance them to a highly competent level. But there are also drawbacks, which I will explain later. As a new starter in a checkout role, customers aren't expecting high levels of engagement. Knowing when it's your turn to speak, in a cash transaction is fairly simple. Many years of this and it becomes a skill you can master. Yet, and this is really important, for an Aspergers sufferer, it never comes naturally, it's a learned skill. You speak, I hear (but don't necessarily listen) and then prepare my next sentence. Conversation skills level 1 achieved. Moving from this role into a sales role requires n...