Strategies for coping at work when your manager has ADHD
It’s not your fault. Maybe you missed that project deadline because your boss never said when it was. Or maybe she kept interrupting you with so many Slacks and emails you couldn’t finish your work. When your supervisor has Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and you don’t, her communication style can sometimes keep you from doing the job.
You’re not alone. Elaine Taylor-Klaus is cofounder of coaching company ImpactADHD and also has Attention Deficit. She says that while people with ADHD are “creative and idea focused,” they also tend to “resist structure or rely heavily on others creating structure.” That means your boss is unlikely to provide precise project guidelines. You have to develop your own. For employees who need more direction, this can be frustrating but Taylor-Klaus says, “If you love your job, don’t quit; instead, put some effort into designing with your boss and asking for what you need to be successful.”
Start by determining whether your supervisor’s poor communication comes from her personality or her ADHD. It’s one thing if your boss isn’t helpful, another if she’s overloaded and doing the best she can. Outside of not conveying when she needed the project done, is your manager a good leader? How well does she execute her own work? People with…
