I am predominantly right brained and find it hard to be understood at my job. Any suggestions?

Question

Basically I am an actor and dancer. When in acting, my way of thinking is a blessing. But at my job, it's all about logic, multitasking, and quick verbal answers. I am labeled as stupid or not bright by some. Other actors or people with emotional intelligence at my job understand me. They know I process things differently and so I say things or come off as airheaded. I always had straight A's in school and got into a prestigous conservatory in NY. But I just want to go home and cry every day from how these people are. Any suggestions on coping in a predominantly left brained world??? I just want people to see I am not stupid.

Answer 1

No! I don't think you are making up excuses as was brought out, you clearly know your talents and strengths, and that is great! You are clearly very bright. I read somewhere to do certain exercises to enable different sides of our brain to work better; like writing with your left hand if you are right handed, or vise versa. I do think you may want to find something that brings out your strengths, I think you would be happier. I recognize that this is probably something that you are doing when you are not acting, however it still may be a good idea to find something that plays up your strengths when you are not acting or dancing. Perhaps teaching acting or dancing. Whatever it is you enjoy doing.

Answer 2

Use it to your advantage. I'm mostly right-brained, too, and have found work in program mangement and design. You should be good at problem solving, creating new ideas, marketing, etc. Sounds like you might just not have the right job. Besides that, unless you make it big, you're always going to have to use right and left brain skills, no matter where you are. Work on those other skills. Also as a manager, someone saying that they're an actor or dancer would annoy me. I'm a writer, but I wouldn't use that as an excuse for not being able to acculturate in a job.

Answer 3

1. Abandon the overly simplistic and basically nonsensical 'right brain/left brain' stuff. There are not two groups of people like that.

2. Your learning style is kinesthetic. You learn in motion. Many kinesthetic learners are labeled ADD or trouble makers because they are always in motion and easily distracted by movement.

3. People in business are usually visual learners- they like charts and text and base a lot of things on what they see. What do they see when they see you and your actions and results?

4. Getting a job that better suits you would be great if possible, but otherwise, treat it as acting a role. Act like a business person. USE your motions to your favor- when asked a question, fiddle for a moment before you answer, and take the moment to figure out what your character would say.

5. Use your motions in other ways. Choreograph presentations. Orchestrate meetings, work on the right facial expressions for the situations- thoughtful looks, etc.

6. Understand that everyone thinks everyone should understand US and think/act like we do. Your co-workers are not being mean or anything, they just assume that you are more like them. There is no reason to be hurt by their thoughtlessness- it is not really personal.

It is a little unfair that as odd person out YOU have to work at fitting in, but that is the way it is in this world. Be thankful that your co-actors appreciate you for who you are!

Answer 4

Do ballet when delivering reports to your boss's office, the splits when picking up the lunch order, and bring a ballet bar for the weekly meetings.

Stop making excuses for your theory of how the brain works, man I've never heard anyone lean on an excuse that hard. If you are a dancer, you must be disciplined. Apply your discipline to your work.

Answer 5

Multitasking is so hard when you've been honing your artistic disciplines. I can tell you that if you work hard at it, your present situation can be something tolerable as long as it isn't long term. Use it as a stepping stone to something more appropriate for your skills and abilities. If you try to stay there too long, you will likely get burn-out.

Answer 6

Why don't start looking for a job that better suits your talents?

Left brainers certainly have low tolerance for right-brained thinking because it's too meandering and seems illogical.

Answer 7

Are you trying to say you are a girl traped in a male body??It has nothing to do with intelligence! And if you can't process the necessary information to complete a task, that's because you are not educated to perform it, or, you are mentally challenged. I have only ever heard the "right brain, left brain" theory discussed in reference to the method males differ from females in the process of assimilating information. I think you need help.