The author (not pictured) says she can't read social cues and sometimes sounds monotone unintentionally. Edwin Tan /Getty ImagesI used to get frustrated at work events because I left exhausted without accomplishing what I wanted.After I was diagnosed with autism, it made sense why these networking events were so hard for me.I'll take things literally and have a hard time understanding social cues.After my first networking event three years ago, I went home feeling frustrated with myself.