Making ADD Work: On-the-Job Strategies for Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder

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In this article, we explain what ADHD is, and we suggest strategies to help you manage someone with ADHD, so she can be a successful and productive member of your team. We also explore the challenges it can present for you and your team, and we highlight some of the benefits that can come with ADHD, such as the energy and creativity that is often displayed by people with the condition.

ADHD covers a range of behavioral symptoms that includes inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Most people with ADHD have a combination of these symptoms.

How Does ADHD Affect Employment?

Some people have a milder version, called Attention Deficit Disorder ADD , which affects their ability to concentrate, but they do not experience hyperactivity or impulsiveness. ADHD usually appears in childhood, but may not be diagnosed until adulthood. It appears equally in men and women, although it is more commonly diagnosed in boys. Employees with ADHD are often protected by law from discrimination. It's important to be familiar with the appropriate legislation, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of , in the U.

This will ensure that you're treating your team members fairly, and in accordance with the law in your particular region, state or country. Unfortunately, there is a stigma attached to ADHD, so your team member may not disclose his condition to you — and he's not obliged to.

If you manage someone who demonstrates any of these behaviors, it's important that you do not attempt to diagnose him yourself, but you can make suggestions to help him, as you would any other member of your team. The key to managing a team member with ADHD successfully is to support her as she overcomes her own challenges, but also to get the best from her for your team and organization. If a team member tells you that he has ADHD and asks for some extra support, arrange a time to talk to him to find out what he'd find helpful. Then, talk to your HR department to make sure that you comply with relevant disability legislation.

Most ADHD accommodations are simple, inexpensive and beneficial to everyone in your team. He may find it hard to concentrate and can be easily distracted by office noise and activity.

You can provide him with noise-canceling headphones or move him to a quieter part of the office. Your team member may exhibit signs of hyperactivity or impulsive behavior, such as tapping, humming and fidgeting, which could disturb her colleagues and perhaps affect their performance.

Scheduling regular breaks can create an outlet for physical activity. Providing her with a private workspace can reduce the disruption to other team members.

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Gaining the support of colleagues: But there are steps you can take to build good working relationships among your team members. You can provide training for them, so they get a better understanding of the disorder. Appointing a mentor or "buddy" can help a team member with ADHD to cope with any social or communication difficulties, and help him to feel part of the team. A team member with ADHD can be creative and energetic, but may have difficulty with prioritization and managing her time.

Managing a Person With ADHD

So, you can help her to concentrate on what she's good at by helping her to be more organized. A simple timer can give her a clear idea of when she needs to complete a task.

Providing a written list of assignments and deadlines may be useful. Giving feedback and setting boundaries: You may be willing and committed to helping a team member with ADHD as much as you can, but that does not mean "bending over backwards" to such an extent that you cannot get your own job done.

It's also important to be clear about your organization's conduct policy, and review it in a way that helps him understand what standards of behavior are expected. While a manager should show compassion and understanding, and provide a supportive environment, your team member must also be made aware of what is acceptable behavior. You should contact your HR department if you need help and advice to do this. And consult HR before instigating any disciplinary procedures against anyone whose behavior may be linked to ADHD, to ensure you do not unwittingly fall foul of any anti-discrimination legislation.

People with ADHD can bring energy, enthusiasm and new perspectives to your team. When employees know how to mitigate their symptoms, they perform better at work.

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Take our 2-minute Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder quiz to see if you may benefit from further diagnosis and treatment. Distraction can be a struggle for adults with ADHD because many office settings are noisy, fast-paced, and busy.

ADHD in the Workplace

The constant onslaught of phone calls, text messages, and email can derail the attention span, making employees less efficient. Adults with ADHD struggle to tune out environmental noise and distractions. Consider these tips to decrease distraction at work:.

Mind Tools for Your Organization

A short attention span is one the classic symptoms of ADHD. Adults with ADHD can have difficulty maintaining concentration, even when a task or project is interesting. Although, another classic behavior of ADHD is being able to hyper focus on things that you really enjoy.

Beyond that, low attention span can also impact listening skills. If the mind wanders during meetings or phone calls, work will suffer.

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