Some people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may question whether the condition will be a help or hindrance at work. Others might be on the fence about disclosing the disorder to employers.
Here’s a closer look at these issues, based on advice from ADHD experts.
Incredible Drive
“Many scientists, writers and artists with ADHD have had very successful careers, in large part because of their ability to focus on what they’re doing for hours on end,” Kathleen Nadeau, a psychologist and the director of the Chesapeake ADHD Center in Maryland tells ADDitudemag.com, a resource for people living with ADHD. This is often attributed to having a strong hyper-focus, or being in a so-called “zone,” which allows some people with ADHD to devote long periods of time on something — usually when the topic is of particular interest.
[See: Hoarding, ADHD, Narcissism: Inside the Minds of History’s Great Personalities.]
Entrepreneurs and Game-Changers
“Many people with ADHD are entrepreneurs, self-starters and game-changers,” says Edward Hallowell, founder of the Hallowell Centers in Boston, New York City, San Francisco and Seattle. “They’re often the creative ones that come up with new ideas.” In fact, he’s so emphatic about the positive traits people with ADHD bring to the workplace, that he says he thinks the disorder should be renamed the “entrepreneur’s trait.” It’s wording that he feels erases the shame and doubt typically associated with ADHD.
People with ADHD who have made significant professional strides include Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw, chef Jamie Oliver and singer Solange Knowles.
Endless Source of Ideas
According to the Attention Deficit Disorder Association, “people with ADHD can be some of the most creative resources on a team, bringing energy and new approaches to their projects.” The association adds that such people often have an ability to see all sides to a situation and have a “seemingly endless desire to try new ideas, tasks and projects.” The new strategies and methods they bring to the table can help them grow and succeed professionally.
However, having ADHD in the workplace can have its downsides.
Misconceptions
Hallowell says it’s “not a good idea to tell others in the workplace you have ADHD.” He feels this way simply because many “people don’t understand” ADHD. People who aren’t informed about ADHD, he says, carry misconceptions about the disorder, including the notion that such people are always unreliable.
To complicate work issues, some employers may make assumptions that someone has ADHD even when an employee does not. Lynne Eisaguirre, a former employment attorney and Colorado-based workplace expert, tells the Society for Human Resource Management that employers should not speculate that someone has the disorder or attempt to help a person whom they think has it.
“Many other conditions can mimic ADHD behavior,” Eisaguirre says. “To treat someone differently because you believe they have ADHD, or even if you know because they’ve told you that they have ADHD, would be discrimination and stereotyping based upon disability.”
[See: 8 Things You Didn’t Know About Counseling.]
Disclosure Can Be Tricky
While it may be tempting to announce an ADHD diagnosis, Sue West, a New Hampshire-based productivity and ADHD coach, says doing so “only identifies what’s been happening and part of why.” Although people with ADHD may feel comfortable with their diagnosis, “it does not give the manager or employer any solutions.” West explains an ADHD declaration may be concerning for an employer, especially if productivity challenges have been an issue. “And if the manager doesn’t know much about ADHD, then what?”
Instead, West recommends employees find the best strategies to help stay organized with ADHD. This may involve turning to an app, a phone’s notes feature or even a standard notebook to create checklists. “Practice them,” West says. “Make them into habits. Find a way to remember what works. Show success on one small, but important, issue affecting you at work.”
Arriving Late
A common issue that typically affects employees, according to West, is being on time to work or meetings. But West says that by incorporating her suggestion of identifying personal ADHD management strategies and sticking to them, it’s possible to improve in this regard because eventually there will be “proof that you have solutions which now are working better for you.” She reminds people that “managers need performance and productivity, no matter how compassionate” those with ADHD may be. “Remember that the job still needs to get done.”
Words of Advice
Don’t Shy Away from Medication: “Not turning to prescribed ADHD meds is like having a vision problem and continuing to squint instead of trying eyeglasses,” Hallowell says. He explains that it’s a common misconception that taking recommended medications is a drastic or unnecessary measure; without them, he says additional interventions such as making dietary improvements or meditating can become more challenging. “Meds can make a huge difference, so it’s important not to turn away from them.”
Find the Right Job: Of most importance for anyone, Hallowell says, is finding the right job. “A lot of people, with or without ADHD, spend a lifetime getting good at what they’re bad at.” He recalls a man with ADHD and an IQ of 160 who filed 122 W-2 forms in one year because he was frequently fired or quit due to job dissatisfaction. Hallowell says this is a testament to the man’s tenacity, but it also demonstrates what can happen when a person isn’t in the right job and — as was the case for this individual — is not taking suggested medications.
Ideally, he explains that a person should be in a career in which three distinct aspects overlap: what a person loves doing, what he or she is good at and what people are willing to pay. When these areas intersect, that’s ideal. It’s when these areas fail to overlap and appropriate medications aren’t being taken that Hallowell says gives rise to the common occurrence where “people with ADHD tend to get fired more or move from job to job.”
[See: 10 Concerns Parents Have About Their Kids’ Health.]
Consider All Options to Help Manage ADHD: Stephanie Sarkis, author and psychotherapist in Tampa, Florida, says that stimulant medications can be effective. However, she notes that four other nonmedication options “have been shown to be beneficial for managing ADHD in adults: exercise, eating omega-rich foods, mindfulness meditation and cognitive-behavioral therapy.” She suggests adults try these other ADHD coping strategies in addition to traditional ADHD treatment methods because they may help personally and professionally.
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What Are The Pros and Cons of Having ADHD in the Workplace? originally appeared on usnews.com
