Managing ADHD and the Workplace

WHAT DOES ADHD LOOK LIKE AT WORK?
You are overwhelmed and feel disorganized with a lack of focus. Buried in to-do lists, while fluctuating between ‘catch-up’ or ‘cover-up’ mode. You can never get ahead of deadlines and are always late. Does this sound familiar? Well, from time to time we all run into these types of challenges. For the person with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), it can be a constant struggle. On the other hand, your ADHD can be the source of creativity, innovation, productivity and a unique set of problem-solving approaches. One sure thing is that it has a significant impact on your professional life.

WHAT’S THE SECRET?
Let’s face it – the ADHD brain is wired differently. Often times, the people I see are smart and capable enough to do their jobs. They will do really brilliant, amazing and cool things, but at times feel that they need to work a lot harder to achieve their goals. It all starts with self-awareness. Be honest about the unique challenges and opportunities within your work environment so you may unlock your hidden strengths. Navigate your work with the right accommodations (formal or informal), tools, strategies and a dash of self-advocacy.

YEAH, BUT…
Figuring out which tools and strategies are going to be best for you, can feel overwhelming. You may wonder if it is necessary to disclose your ADHD. Well, others may already notice that you forget deadlines, miss important details, have trouble focusing during meetings, or do not follow through. Ideally, by telling your boss you may gain an ally in helping you set up the optimal work environment. Alternatively, you could simply tell your supervisor that you’ve learned the way your brain works best, when you have let’s say, a quite space (early mornings, away from high traffic areas, etc.). Another reason to let your company know that you have ADHD is to foster an inclusive workplace and to legally protect yourself.

WHAT ENVIRONMENTS ARE BEST SUITED?
When placed in the right environment, your unique strengths become valuable assets. Your creativity, energy and fresh perspectives can bring enthusiasm to the team. Your ability to hyperfocus on tasks of interest can lead to exceptional productivity and high quality of work; resilience and adaptability mean that you thrive in fast-paced settings where quick decision-making is needed; strong communication or story-telling skills are great for spontaneous, engaging conversations; risk-taking, seeking novelty, curiosity, passion and flexibility fuel your entrepreneurial drive.

STAY POSITIVE!
ADHD has its drawbacks and positives. Refer to your list of accomplishments once in a while. Notice all the tick marks and realize that you ARE getting work done.

Administrative tasks may be hard, but integrate those things that you excel at. It will improve your mood. Try to make a list of five happy work-related things every day. This is so easy to do and really makes a difference. Know that you will NEVER be done…and that is a good thing. Your mind may run a million miles a second to generate ideas like crazy. You are going to come up with so many possibilities and you won’t achieve them all. Don’t let this be a bummer! Remind yourself of how much you are doing and the fact that you have some perpetually unfinished items on your to-do-list just means that you have a lot of ideas. Take pride in it.

BOTTOMLINE
Keep thinking critically about what is working and what is not. It is absolutely within your power to make your job tolerable, successful and even enjoyable.

Please note that due to a server issue my email has had to change to rocheherbst1@gmail. com I appreciate your patience on this matter.