ADHD Strategies in Business

Posted on June 27, 2024 by Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., One of Thousands of ADD ADHD Coaches on Noomii.

Managing ADHD in a business environment can be challenging, but with the right strategies, you can excel at your work. Here are three essential interventions that can make a significant difference:

First, prioritize your tasks using the 20/80 rule. Identify the 20% of tasks that will yield 80% of the results. This principle helps you focus on high-impact activities that drive your performance and productivity. For example, if you have ten tasks, determine which two are the most critical and focus on those. This approach ensures that your efforts are aligned with your most important goals, helping you avoid getting bogged down in less impactful tasks. If you are an entrepreneur, one of your most important tasks is the begin to delegate out, or hire out, the 80% tasks.

Let’s face the reality. If you are a solo-preneur, some of your tasks are $300 per hour tasks that are in your sweet spot. Only you can do these tasks. These are the 20% that bring in your income. And of the other tasks – the 80%-ers – some or most of those are $18 per hour jobs. Going to Office Depot, getting the mail, taking out the trash, whatever. Your most important task is going to be to (1) list the 10 things that you are doing, (2) apply the 20/80 rule, (3) hire somebody to do the $18 per hour jobs starting tomorrow! This gives you more time to work on the $300 per hour jobs. (4) Get yourself to the place where you are only doing the most creative, important, and revenue generating tasks – and nothing else.

Second, implement structured routines and use tools to manage your time and tasks effectively. ADHD often comes with challenges in executive function, such as planning and organizing. Utilizing tools like digital calendars, task management apps, or even simple sticky notes can help you stay on track. Break your tasks into smaller, manageable steps and set specific deadlines for each. This not only helps in maintaining focus but also reduces the overwhelm that can come with larger projects.

To illustrate, let me share an example from my own experience. I once worked with a client, a highly creative entrepreneur, who struggled with the details of running his business. He had a classic case of what I call “Winnie the Pooh type” ADHD—full of big ideas and vision but easily bogged down by the details of the execution of the plan. We implemented a strategy where he focused on his strengths—brainstorming and visionary tasks—while delegating detail-oriented work to his team. He used digital tools to set reminders and manage deadlines, which significantly improved his productivity. Over time, he learned to communicate his needs to his team, creating a supportive environment that played to his strengths and mitigated his challenges.

I can help you as an ADHD coach and professional therapist with 36 years of experience helping individuals dealing with inattention, distraction, impulsivity, time blindness, procrastination, and more. Let me show you how to organize, prioritize, and keep working until the job is done, and then actually “turn it in.”

By focusing on these strategies, you can harness your strengths and manage the challenges of ADHD effectively. What strategies have you already tried to manage your ADHD symptoms in the workplace, and how effective have they been for you?