ADHD In The Workplace - Unlocking The Potential
Ever wondered how to support colleagues with ADHD in the workplace, but didn’t know where to start?
This guest post by Arron Hutchinson from the ADHD Foundation (our Spring/Summer 2023 Chosen Charity) will help you to better understand the condition, and what you can do to support your neurodivergent colleagues.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition estimated to affect around 5% of the population. The three characteristics of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, and these can present in many ways:
Inattention: Challenges with attention over long periods of time, working memory, planning and prioritisation, and organisation (for example, losing things).
Impulsivity: Acting or speaking without thinking through the consequences, interrupting/intruding on conversations or speaking up in a meeting when inappropriate.
Hyperactivity: Restlessness/fidgeting, excessive talking, leaving seat repeatedly in office and meetings.
However, not all people with ADHD will experience challenges in all of these areas and there are also many positive traits that are associated with ADHD.
Image: Fauxels (Pexels)
What strengths can be associated with ADHD?
Everyone with ADHD is different and therefore presents differently, but there are many positive strengths ADHDers can exhibit such as:
Ability to ‘hyperfocus’ on tasks when engaged
Willingness to take calculated risks
Thinking differently/creatively
Spontaneity
Ability to see ‘the big picture’
Problem-solving skills
Energy and enthusiasm
Considering this, are there benefits to having a neurodivergent workforce?
Absolutely! When we reframe the way we think about neurodiversity and ADHD, we can really start to see the benefits of this.
For example, hyperactivity can be viewed as being energetic, as having drive and enthusiasm. Impulsivity can also be viewed as decisiveness – willing to take a chance, seize an opportunity. Inattention and mind wandering can be viewed as having an imagination that is looking for ideas, inspiration, new experiences and curiosity.
ADHD does not define you; it is an explanation about how your unique mind works. It is an insight into how you interact with the world you live in, and how you interact with and relate to the people who inhabit your world. When we reframe the way we think about ADHD, we can start to unlock the positive potential that individuals who think differently can possess.
What are the challenges that are associated with ADHD?
While there are so many positives, there are of course challenges that those with ADHD can face both in the workplace and in their home lives. As mentioned previously, the three main categories on the diagnostic criteria are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. In addition to this, many people with ADHD can have challenges in what is called executive functioning.
The executive functions are a set of mental skills that everybody has which help us to plan and organise ourselves and use goal directed behaviour to do all of the activities that we need to do in our lives. They are sometimes referred to as ‘the management system of the brain’.
The executive functions help us to control our attention, impulses and emotions which might prevent us from starting and/or completing these activities. When we have difficulties with our executive functions, this can make it hard to focus, follow directions, and handle our emotions.
Image: Fauxels (Pexels)
How can we support ADHDers in our workplaces to unlock their potential?
When we consider the many strengths that ADHD minds can possess, it is vital that we support our ADHD colleagues with any challenges that they may experience. Once we start to implement effective adjustments, we can truly unlock the potential of ADHDers in the workforce and ensure that they feel supported. Below are some ideas for supporting your colleagues.
Movement is not the enemy
You can optimise focus for ADHDers in the workplace by adding movement breaks into your meetings, or using standing desks. People tend to view ‘moving about’ as a problem, but fidgeting and/or doodling can actually be a good attentional tool. Standing desks are a great way of utilising movement while working as well as allowing standing during meetings. Meetings can be particularly challenging for a colleague who needs to move to focus or can have difficulties with their impulse control. To support this, allow and encourage colleagues to doodle if this is preferable and provide attendees with post-it notes or a notebook during the meeting so that they can write their thoughts down instead of interrupting conversations.
Take an empathy-first approach
Showing your colleagues that you understand how their brain operates can go a long way to supporting their self-esteem and confidence. Begin by asking your colleague if they feel supported and if there are any reasonable adjustments that can be made. It is important to listen to their concerns and take any anxieties seriously. There can often be a temptation to say things like ‘don’t be silly’ to try and help but this can often trivialise their concerns and discourage them from opening up in the future.
Break things down
Long-term goals and projects can be challenging for some ADHDers but we can make adjustments to make this process more accessible. Breaking long term goals down for somebody into smaller, more manageable steps is a great way of doing this. Consider the use of to-do lists or visual planners to allow for clear structure of the project with ‘mini-goals’ along the way. This will support your colleague to keep their focus on the task at hand and will regularly reinforce a sense of achievement as they work through the project.
Organisation is key
Due to executive functioning difficulties, many with ADHD can find planning and organisation challenging. Luckily, there are many tools that we can use to externalise these processes. Spend some time with colleagues exploring these tools and see which works best for the individual, whether or not they have ADHD. These tools include:
To-do list and planning apps (Lists to Do, MinimaList, Addie ADHD)
Visual planners (ADHD Task Planner, Ayoa App, Mindview App)
Visual timers to eternalise time management
Recording devices to enable your colleague to externalise their thoughts and reduce anxiety around memory
Ensure that any calendar/diary systems are used consistently across the team
Clear communication
Ensure that the way we communicate in the workplace is ADHD-friendly. We can do this by making sure our communication is clear, concise and to the point. It can also help to provide written instructions to follow-up any verbal instructions and make sure that these are bullet-pointed and clear. Another thing to consider is allowing extra processing time for ADHD colleagues - they may need some extra time to process what has been asked of them and we can achieve this by making sure that we don’t require an answer straight away and give as much notice as possible for any upcoming changes.
Consider the environment
When it comes to focus and attention, the working environment is crucial. Some colleagues may prefer to work from home where possible if the busy environment of the office is too distracting. Likewise, others may find being at home more distracting and may prefer to work in the office - it is all down to the individual! If working from home is not possible, consider ways in which the working environment can be made less distracting, You may want to consider having quiet spaces in the office where ADHD colleagues can go if they need to focus, or allow them to use headphones to listen to white noise or music to drown out auditory distractions.
Arron Hutchinson is the Education Training Director for the ADHD Foundation and leads on training for education professionals, in both mainstream and alternative provision, from primary schools to further education. He also delivers CPD to businesses on how to best support neurodiverse employees in the workplace. Arron also delivers therapeutic interventions for children and young people with a variety of needs, whether they have a diagnosis or not.
Want to know more about how to support colleagues with ADHD? Check out the ADHD Foundation website for more information.
The fee for this guest post was donated directly to the ADHD Foundation.
