To All Managers: How Does ADD Affect Your Workplace?

Tent caterpillars create a cocoon for an entire colony. Within one colony there are two types of caterpillar. One type, pioneers, weave long threads forming the skeleton of the tent. The others, the workers, weave cross threads filling in the structure. If there are too many pioneers, the tent is too big and collapses. If there are not enough pioneers, the tent is too dense and the colony suffocates. Viva la difference.

Within the colony of human beings we can find similar differences. Some are explorers, entrepreneurs extending the boundaries of our environment in art, science, or business. The rest fill in the details as accountants or managers.

As a manager you know that creativity is the quality which enables your company to expand and improve products, services and processes. The best salespeople, strategic planners and inventors are creative people who generate a steady flow of ideas. However, creativity may come with other features which are not so desirable such as impulsiveness, lack of organization of ideas, paper, and time, and social problems in communication and relationships at work or at home.

SAM WAS THE BEST SALESMAN the company had ever seen, but his boss was about to fire him because he couldn't get the paper work done.

MARY WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIC PLANNER at work, but at home she couldn't clear up after dinner, her husband had to teach her how to put things away.

ANDREW WAS AN EXPERT IN HIS FIELD, but in his head he felt like a fraud. The dissonance between his expert status and his mental image of himself led him to a severe depression and two years of lost work.

OR MAYBE YOU HAD TO FIRE MICHEL. He was just too argumentative. He was always antagonizing someone. No one would work with him in a team. Too bad because his work was excellent.

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)* is a neurological difference in the brain which causes difficulties with the executive functions of planning, prioritizing, decision making, organizing, time management and more. It touches from 3 to 5% of the adult population ( Kevin Murphy, associate professor of psychiatry and chief adult :ADHD clinician at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester) and appears frequently in the fields where creativity is required. To state this another way: the positive asset of creativity and the negative problems are two sides of one coin.

We all feel disorganized, forgetful, or at odds with the world some of the time, but for those affected, ADD is a quality of life issue which is of long duration. One of their most common complaints is a feeling of being out of joint with their surroundings. They may feel frustrated by their own failure to achieve and deceived because they can't make effective use of their potential. They have great difficulty harnessing their many ideas and bringing them to completion.

From your point of view, as a manager, ADD can be a question of lost productivity and accidents. You probably hired them because they were passionate, intelligent, full of ideas, and had great energy (all typical qualities of ADD), but once on the job the difficulties appear. Now you may consider them lazy or irresponsible due to frequent absenteeism, lateness, below average productivity, missed deadlines, or senseless conflict.

Or you may see another picture, a person whose work is excellent, but is working exceptionally long hours for the work done, seems overly sensitive to comments, may be having difficulty in his private life due to poorly managed finances or friction with his spouse, or appears to have a problem with alcohol or even drugs.

The first step for such a person (and it may be you, the manager) is a medical diagnoses by a doctor who is knowledgeable in ADD. If the diagnoses is for ADD, the doctor will prescribe one of several medications. Medication helps the brain to function effectively, but it may not be sufficient. The second step is to seek the help of a coach trained in ADD who can help him see where and how ADD is affecting his life and guide him in developing strategies for managing the issues and using his strengths.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS for dealing with employees who may be affected by ADD.

*--Recognize that the problem is not willful disobedience or moral failure but of neurological origin.

*--Provide lots of positive encouragement and guidance; negative criticism they give themselves.

*--Help them adapt their working environment to their personal needs.

*--Provide support systems to help with the paper work and other detail tasks which are stifling for people with ADD.

*--Provide a coach knowledgeable in the problems of ADD. Coaching for ADD focuses on understanding how ADD affects the client and on building structures to manage daily tasks.

To conclude, Mr. or Ms. Manager, if you are concerned about your productivity level or bottom line, look for your employees' strengths and help each one to do what he/she is good at and they will reward you richly.

_____________________________________________________________

* Attention Deficit Disorder(ADD) is not a helpful name. It is not about a deficit of attention but about an inconsistency of attention. A person with ADD can pay attention very well to things that are interesting and therefore stimulating, but they have difficulty controlling their attention in situations in which they find no stimulation.

Attention Deficit and/or Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) is the current term as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV) of the American Psychiatric Association. The current understanding of researchers is that there are two different problems, attention deficit and hyperactivity which may occur together or separately. Hyperactivity is well known as a problem in boys, but it usually subsides in adolescence; problems of attention tend to persist in adults.

About The Author

Sarah Jane Keyser is an ADHD coach with an international practice who helps adults and adolescents find joy and fulfillment with ADHD. Feel free to use this article as long as you include author's bio and a live link to her website.

Learn more about ADHD at http://www.CoachingKeytoADD.com or sign up for Zebra Stripes, a free E-zine for ADHD at Click here

---

Do Your Very Best in All Things -- Because Someone Is Looking....

Your job is to rise ABOVE the challenge. Do more... Read More

The Perfect Fit: Women & Franchising

An interesting combination of factors at this time in history... Read More

Career Advice On Freelance Writing Jobs

Sometimes the freelance writing jobs available are those that no... Read More

After Your Interview - What Must You Do Next?

Other than actually landing the interview itself and living through... Read More

What Recruiters Hate About Resumes And Cover Letters

Today, I'm going to share with you the awful truth... Read More

How To Write A Résumé

Figure out what you want to do.You can't write an... Read More

Overcoming Inertia in Job Change

If you can hold on to an optimistic belief in... Read More

Ode to a Spoon

"Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what... Read More

Hunting the Executive Head Hunter

5 tips to win over an executive head hunter or... Read More

Write And Get Hired

Want to get hired faster than up to 97% of... Read More

Jobseekers! Look For Smoke, Not Fire

"If you always do what you've always done, you will... Read More

Getting Your Online Health Care Administration Degree

Are you thinking about getting your online health care degree... Read More

Dissatisfied With Work? Perhaps Its You

Just about every month, there's a new research report detailing... Read More

Ten Things About Your Career Development

There are some tactics you can action whatever you wish... Read More

Build Your Career Decision By Decision

Do you dislike making decisions and avoid the challenge whenever... Read More

Ten Great Careers For Computer ?Geeks

The universal acceptance of computers into our daily lives, both... Read More

Youre Fired Isnt The Finale

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, March 2004 had... Read More

The Not-So-Effective Cover Letter

Here's a newsflash: Cover letters work, plain and simple. This... Read More

Writing Powerful Resumes ? 10 Golden Rules

Your resume is your sales letter. It may not get... Read More

During Midlife Change: Are You a Jumper or a Clinger?

Over the years, I have identified two kinds of midlife... Read More

Online Business: The Underground Railroad for Corporate Escapees

Millions of people everyday spend eight hours or more in... Read More

What You Should Know About A Medical Billing Specialist

Whether you are a person who is thinking about becoming... Read More

Job Search Advice for Desperate Job Seekers

Another morning of job hunting lies ahead of you. You... Read More

Are You Bored By What You Do?

Is your working life in the doldrums? Do you feel... Read More

How To Conduct A Successful Job Search Campaign

1.Define your objective: Know what kind of work you most... Read More

Alert! An Over-50 Jobseeker Has Just Entered the Building

Interviewing Tips for the Older Job-seeking PopulationA red alert is... Read More

Job Interviews -- How to Follow Up Effectively

Getting a job is not just about your performance in... Read More

How To Establish Trust, Credibility and Enthusiasm To Your Interviewer

If you use your voice to get attention, you use... Read More

How Well Do You Manage Your Boss?

Are you in this situation? You and your boss just... Read More

Tips for Getting Your Movie Career Launched

Hollywood helps those who help themselves! In you want to... Read More

Reinvent Your Career In Five Simple Steps

The phrase "reinventing yourself" seems to be popping up all... Read More

How to Pick the Best Career for You: Part 3

Marketing-with-Intent precisely drives you to your target and with greater... Read More

Helping Mid-Life Employees Find Meaning

People work to live, but most also live to work.... Read More