Using ADHD to Your Benefit in the Workplace

Hello my Beautiful Brains 🙂

So I want to start this by saying that while this little article discusses the positives of ADHD, and in no way am I making light of the real challenges ADHD can create for us. This is, let’s say a solid look at what ADHD can look like when it’s well managed.

Happy Reading.

Hey there fellow professionals with ADHD! I’ve been thinking, maybe for some of us it’s could be a good time to begin recognizing our ADHD as the asset it truly can be. Yes, you heard that right, we’re going to talk about how ADHD can benefit you in the workplace.

Again, this is trying to create a positive spin to our unique brains, and recognizing them for their potential if harnessed correctly. The fact that we have ADHD means that . This makes us excellent multitaskers and able to handle multiple tasks our bodies and minds are constantly on the move, and sometimes can effectively handle several things at once, which, while multitasking, or task switching, is less efficient overall, it may also be a positive quality to possess in today’s fast-paced work environment.

Our hyperactivity and impulsivity can also come in handy when it comes to creative problem-solving. We’re not afraid to take risks and think outside the box, which can lead to innovative and creative solutions that others may not have thought of.

Another great strength of ours is our ability to hyperfocus. When we’re interested in something, we will give it our all and can easily get lost in the task at hand. This means that when we’re passionate about a project, there’s no stopping us from giving it our all and producing outstanding results.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. “But what about all the mundane aspects of professionalism, like organizing and paying attention to detail?” Fear not, my fellow ADHDers, there are many options we can find work arounds when it comes to these difficulties (a coach might help here).

Or, even better, find a colleague who excels in those areas and collaborate with them. Remember, teamwork makes the dream work, and by combining our ADHD strengths with someone else’s skillset, we can achieve great things together. Plus, if you can get them to body-double with you, you may not even find the need for the “work arounds” discussed above, as body-doubling is a proven way to get mundane things done.

Don’t let anyone tell you that your ADHD is a weakness, first of all, they more than likely don’t know much of what they’re talking about. Secondly, with grace, we can embrace our ADHD, and recognize all the unique qualities that come with it. By doing so, we can become better able to leverage our strengths, focus less on our weaknesses, and succeed professionally without having to work out the arduous aspects of professionalism. After all, who needs to take meeting notes when you can come up with groundbreaking ideas instead?

References

Team, A. E. (Ed.). (2023, November 27). ADHD hyperfocus: The secret weapon to unleashing productivity and creativity. ADDA – Attention Deficit Disorder Association. https://add.org/adhd-hyperfocus/#:~:text=The%20creativity%2C%20tenacity%2C%20and%20energy,intense%20focus%20on%20a%20task. 

White, H.A. (2020), Thinking “Outside the Box”: Unconstrained Creative Generation in Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. J Creat Behav, 54: 472-483. https://doi.org/10.1002/jocb.382

Villines , Z. (2023, August 24). Body doubling for ADHD: Definition, how it works, and more. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/body-doubling-adhd