Do less for people. Do more with them.

This is a book for managers, leaders and coaches who want to overcome their discomfort and fear when working with neurodivergent people, and who know that difference is rocket-fuel for organisations.

If you want the confidence to truly connect — without labels, jargon and clunky models — this book offers fresh and effective ways of working with neurodiverse talent.

You don’t have to know everything, you just have to be willing to see things differently.

Claire Pedrick, Kim Witten and Nathan Whitbread are neurodivergent professionals. They share a mission to raise awareness, simplify communication, and effect positive change in the way people interact in the workplace and beyond. Claire is an experienced coach and the author of Simplifying Coaching and co-author of the award-winning The Human Behind The Coach, Kim is a coach-consultant with a PhD in linguistics and has studied language and human behaviour for over two decades, and Nathan has extensive experience helping organizations become more ND-friendly plus thousands of hours of coaching, consulting and supporting ND people at work.

‘A thoughtful and practical guide to improving conversations about neurodivergence. By shifting the focus from labels to understanding, Lens Not Label encourages curiosity, partnership and reflection – reminding us that effective support begins with listening to the person in front of us.’ Professor Amanda Kirby, Founder of Do-IT Solutions, Emeritus Professor at University of South Wales

‘Empowering and humble. Lens Not Label invites you to a journey of discovery and co-creation with our fellow human beings, recognising how easily assumptions can backfire and how deeply curiosity can connect us. It urges you to explore the kaleidoscope of human traits without shying away from thornier topics such as shame and conflict.’ Lise Bruynooghe, Executive coach for unconventional leaders

‘Everyone deserves to be heard and seen. This book honours the sovereignty of the individual and that we all have a view of the world that needs space and care to allow understanding to emerge through reflection. The book provides the tools and mirrors for that to happen in abundance that will assist coaches, mentors, leaders, managers and everyone else in between.’ Matthew Rayward, Royal Navy Coaching Advisor

‘As a charity leader keen to understand and support neurodivergent colleagues and make the most of everyone’s talents, I found this book very refreshing. Grounded, human and deeply practical, it cuts through complexity and shifts the focus from ‘fixing’ people to working in true partnership.’ Sarah Atkinson, CEO, Social Mobility Foundation

‘Invaluable and practical and easy to follow advice for effectively engaging with most of my colleagues and friends. I truly wish I had read this had been available many decades ago.’ Myfanwy Wolf, Director – Clean Technology Finance

Now That We’ve Arrived: Some Context

The Words We Use

PART 1: SETTING UP FOR GREAT CONVERSATIONS

Chapter 1: Ask

Chapter 2: Where You Stand

Chapter 3: Going Into Conversations

Chapter 4: Two Listening Lenses

PART 2: WATCH OUT, TRY OUT, GO CAREFULLY

Things to Be Aware Of

Chapter 5: Be Aware of Processing and Energy

Chapter 6: Be Aware of Sensitivities

Chapter 7: Be Aware of Masking

Useful (For You) To Do 1

Chapter 8: Useful To Do – Ask

Chapter 9: Useful To Do – Practice

Inclusion

Chapter 10: Useful To Do – Keep Learning

GoCarefully 1

Chapter 11: Go Carefully With Labels

Chapter 12: Go Carefully With Psychometrics And Testing

Chapter 13: Go Carefully with AI

PART 3: THE DEEP END

Chapter 14: Making Complex Things Simple Again

Chapter 15: Exploring Difference in Conversation

Chapter 16: When Difference Meets Difference

Chapter 17: Different Selves Over Time

As We Close The Book

TL;DR

Resources to Further Your Awareness

Thanks

Endnotes

Index 223

FORMAT / ISBN / PUBLICATION DATE / RRP

Paperback / 9781788609999 / November 17, 2026 / £19.99

Hardback / 9781788609982 / November 17, 2026 / £29.99

Ebook / 9781805760009 / November 16, 2026 / £9.99

Claire Pedrick

Claire Pedrick is a Master Certified Coach (MCC) with over 15,000 hours of coaching experience and a founding partner of 3D Coaching, established in the 1990s. She is known for her philosophy that coaching is simple yet profound, focusing on facilitating deep thinking and real human connection. Claire is the author of Simplifying Coaching and The Human Behind the Coach (Specialist Business Book of The Year 2024), which explores coaching beyond techniques, with humility, presence, and partnership. She hosts The Coaching Inn podcast and has received a number of awards, including the 2022 Outstanding Contribution to Coaching Award from Henley Business School and a Points of Light Award from the UK Prime Minister for her voluntary work. Claire’s approach is informed by systemic thinking and a commitment to equity and fairness, and she draws on her personal experiences, such as walking the Camino de Santiago, to deepen her coaching insights.

Kim Witten

Kim Witten is a communication consultant with a PhD in linguistics, based in Liverpool, UK. She specialises in using language insights to help people decode messy signals and make better sense of their thoughts, behaviours, and interactions.
Her expertise lies in analysing the subtle ways language reflects identity, mindset, and intention — turning overthinking into deep, purposeful reflection.
Kim works with thinkers of all kinds, especially neurodivergent and deep-thinking individuals, helping them clarify what they want, why it matters, and how to get there.
Through over 800 hours of coaching sessions, years of language-focused research, and decades of design and research expertise, Kim has built a practice grounded in the belief that thoughtful, conscious communication is a powerful tool for personal and professional transformation.
From career-changers to change-makers, Kim has supported people from all over the globe to make sense out of messy signals and plan the simplest path to the life and career they truly want.