An Asset-Based Approach To ADHD In The Workplace

Written by: Lauren Pflug / Digital Content Strategist at Blueprint Evolution (5 minute read)

“Research shows that employees with ADHD can be more creative, curious, imaginative, innovative, and inventive” – Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). 

Whether you’re aware of it or not, ADHD is in every professional setting, and I can guarantee people are struggling. We are aiming to change this in a way that colleagues and leaders are both flush with knowledge about this disorder, and know how to provide an ADHD-friendly atmosphere that encourages authenticity and success. Humans with ADHD desperately want to excel in their work– typically their road to victory is not only challenging, but can also look differently than what we’re used to.

ADHD symptoms are often viewed as roadblocks, and they certainly can be. Though, if these symptoms are managed and streamlined efficiently, they can actually be used as superpowers. The list of ADHD symptoms is long and each individual has a wide variety of them. Just to catch you up to speed, I’ll go over the most important factors. Given its name, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, it’s not uncommon to get tripped up on the ‘hyperactive’ bit. While hyperactivity can manifest outwardly with fidgeting and restlessness, you should know that it also presents inward as constant racing thoughts that distract your focus. This is incredibly overwhelming to live with.

 

ADHD has a critical impact on executive function; executive function is the way our brain helps us get things done. It is the mental processes we use to focus, plan, access memory, and juggle/prioritize tasks. While neurotypical people can rely on their executive function to get them through daily life, people struggling with ADHD use significantly more brain power since their executive functioning doesn’t operate as it should. (To learn more about this, visit https://www.additudemag.com/7-executive-function-deficits-linked-to-adhd/ )

Before we get to our asset-based approaches, I’d be remiss if I didn’t touch on the dopamine factor. ADHD is a direct result of low dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that allows us to feel pleasure, motivation, and satisfaction. It is the brain’s reward and pleasure center. Having low levels of dopamine results in a low threshold for stress and overwhelm, increases depression and anxiety, and other wonderful effects like fatigue, moodiness, and inattention. Since the ADHD brain has a dopamine deficit, it is constantly searching for new ways to find it. This helps to explain why staying on task is not an ADHDer’s strong suit.

The asset-based approach can be broken into 2 categories: supportive tips to help colleagues with ADHD succeed and understanding how to utilize an ADHD brain’s strengths. Now, each individual is different and will need to be supported in different ways. How will you know to best support them? Ask! This is a valuable lesson that you can use in all areas of your life: if you know that someone might be struggling, but don’t know how they need to be supported, JUST ASK! “How can I support you?” is an impactful, compassionate question that you should add to your arsenal right now. Carrying on, I know that for me, things like deadlines, timelines, and check-ins help to keep me accountable and motivated. For someone else, those things could just add to their overwhelm. 

Humans with ADHD struggle with time blindness, which is the inability to sense the passing of time, or miscalculating how long a task will take them. As a leader or colleague, being proactive about the time management of tasks and making short-term goals clear can be especially helpful. ADHD doesn’t affect knowledge, but it does affect performance, which is why task activation/initiation can be challenging. Encouraging a colleague to open that document and just commit to 10 minutes of work will often lead them to completing it. It is often not finishing that is the struggle, but getting started. As I mentioned in the beginning, the “ADHD way” will probably look different than what you’re used to. Don’t get hung up on this. As long as the work is getting done, allow them the freedom to create their own approach. Encouraging and celebrating these different approaches wouldn’t hurt either! 

This might be a tough one, but offer frequent (quick) breaks. Sometimes a 5-minute walk, stretching, a dance break, or a couple deep breaths of fresh air can provide some dopamine that is much needed. My last supportive tip is assigning “accountabilibuddies”. We struggle with self-motivation, so having a peer that helps keep us on track can give us the short-term accountability we need.

Okay, let’s harness these symptoms as superpowers. Hyperfocus can be a pain when directed at the wrong task, but when it’s funneled into that important project, it can assist in quick completion and beautiful precision. Hyperfocus can allow people to “stack” or “batch” which is when you complete a large chunk of work in one sitting. Denise Duffield-Thomas, the founder of Money Mindset credits her hyperfocus as an asset: “I made 33 episodes of podcasts in one go.” Impulsivity is another ADHD symptom that is often viewed as something negative. Instead, use it as an asset: impulsive people are often excellent at making tough decisions quickly and thinking outside the box. Encouraging the “ADHD way” could even uncover a more efficient approach that hadn’t previously been thought of. Colleagues with ADHD make excellent multitaskers because they are pros at performing multiple tasks simultaneously. Finally, ADHD brains can work well under the pressure of deadlines and even in times of crisis.

The workplace can be daunting for people that struggle with ADHD; their worst fear is being seen as inadequate. The asset-based approach starts with understanding what it’s like to live with this disorder, and then making sure our colleagues feel supported. Help them to discover their strengths and cheer them on. Confidence encourages productivity. When we ensure they feel seen, heard, and supported, they are far more likely to succeed. This is a valuable advantage to not only them as individuals, but to the company or organization as well. It’s a win-win.

Sources:

• Cleveland Clinic
• CHADD. (2022). ADHD benefits in the workplace. Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. https://chadd.org/adhd-weekly/adhd-benefits-in-the-workplace/ 
• Wilding, M. (2018). How to use ADHD to your advantage, according to a psychologist. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/melodywilding/2018/04/19/how-to-use-adhd-to-your-advantage/?sh=241351e37b5d 
• Images courtesy of Canva