Will Nading

Briefly describe your daily job duties.
We work primarily with municipal clients to plan, design, and rehabilitate drinking water and wastewater facilities. My focus area is on wastewater collection and drinking water distribution systems.

As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job.
The most challenging part of my job is maintaining focus and staying organized. I wouldn’t say my speech necessarily adds significantly to the challenge. Some days are better than others from a fluency perspective, but that would be the case with or without the job.

Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? If so, how did you do it and how do you currently disclose your stuttering to unsuspecting co-workers, clients and or customers?
I did bring it up during the hiring process during one of our conversations. I will discuss it if I feel it is a relevant thing to discuss, but I don’t believe it always is relevant to me these days. So, it is a case by case thing for me.

Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work.
I think stuttering has shaped many positive aspects of my personality and professional performance. I have learned how to be patient and to listen, which has resulted in a better ability to synthesize and summarize information. It has also made me more resilient and determined.

What is your proudest moment at your current company?
I’m proud to have taken the initiative to advance my career and get the job. Also, being a presenter at industry conferences.

What are your long-term career aspirations?
I am a “see where the road leads me” kind of person. I want to constantly try to improve on yesterday, but I don’t pretend to know where that will eventually take me.

What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success?
Focus on being a good communicator. (Communication means more than talking.) If you are clear, thoughtful, organized, and professional in your communication with others you will be successful.