|
|
|
So, maybe you have a new job or just want to keep or tune up the one you
do have. This really concise guide should help you do all of the
above. All of us who are ADHD realize how difficult it can be to work
with those who do not understand us. Our sensitivity levels are often
mistaken for an attitude that others feel means we just don’t want to
get along with the gang. Nothing could be further from the truth in
most cases. Ok, yes there are a small number of ADHD persons who don’t
care if they get along with others. Even when they are dependent on
those others for a job and the means to feed their children, they insist
on “having it their way”. If these ADHD’ers would simply learn to
communicate their feelings effectively and compromise on key issues,
both they and their co-workers would become much more productive. In
reality, ADHD’ers are usually highly creative and can often think “out
of the box” in times of stress. That makes all of us ADHD’ers a very
valuable asset to our companies. So, let’s take a look at ways to
survive in our work place.Ok, but first let’s agree on one thing.
Now is not the time to hide the fact that you are ADHD. With all the
hype ADHD is receiving in the news, sooner or later someone at work is
going to figure you out. Therefore, it’s vital that you relate to your
boss and co-workers that you do have a tendency to display those
wonderful ADHD attributes, such as inability to focus when many stimuli
are presented at once, difficulty meeting deadlines, and problems with
organization of your work area, assigned projects and just about all
aspects of your life. Or just maybe, you are a highly structured
ADHD’er and need for everything to be very organized and arrive on
time. Now that’s out of the way, let’s get down to specifics!
- Regardless of the type of ADHD’er you are, you need to feel in
control of your workspace. If you’re disorganized, then get someone
to help you “organize your chaos” such that both you and that person
can find everything. “Organized chaos” has worked well for me over
the years. My wife understands how to find everything and so does
my secretary. If you are highly organized, then designate areas in
your workspace where others may drop off or pick up assignments or
whatever is needed for work to progress smoothly. In and out boxes
work great for this.
- Your immediate work environment affects your ability to
concentrate and focus. So, with permission, alter the environment
to suit your ability to concentrate. You can’t get away with
hanging obscene items or decorating it in “living zombies” style,
especially if the change doesn’t increase your productivity. Maybe
all you need is a few inspirational posters and pictures from home.
Just be sure to avoid offending those who enter your new domain. If
the chair you use at your workstation is hurting your back, ask to
get a new one. You should control your surroundings. They should
not control you.
- Color influences your mood and sensitivity to visual and
auditory input. It’s best to avoid a lot of red, orange, purple,
gold, and white. The most soothing help you to focus colors seem to
be pale blues and greens. Maybe you need to ask the boss if you can
paint the walls.
- A large bulletin type corkboard or white erase board works best
for messages and reminders. Ask everyone to avoid those sticky
notes stuck everywhere. The clutter will just cause a struggle to
decide which note deserves the most attention . On a white board
you can see them all at once and assign priorities.
- Agree with your coworkers, that if you have more that one person
speaking to you at a time, you will ask for the barrage of input to
cease, until you can sort through it. Don’t you just hate it when
everyone wants your attention at once, and then later they blame you
because they think you didn’t listen to them? You can only focus on
one conversation and do a good job of retaining it’s content.
- Ask a coworker or your boss to let you know when you are getting
off track and to remind you that you have deadlines. This reminder
should be done in a friendly, non-threatening manner.
- If you have a habit of getting easily upset when your
sensitivity tolerance is low, ask one of the staff to give you a
verbal or physical cue to indicate you’re on edge again. They could
point a finger to their left ear or openly say, “Boy, the weather is
foul today!” If you know your feathers are ruffled when you get to
work, go ahead and warn that friend so they can watch out for you.
All ADHD’ers have a heightened sensitivity to certain words,
comments, remarks, the temperature of the room, or maybe a
particular style of clothing. As a sensitive ADHD’er, you may be
impulsive and blurt out a remark you didn’t mean,just because you
were thinking it. Learn to apologize for speaking before thinking.
- Set a goal to ask for help on assigned projects,if you are more
than two days behind or if you find yourself not ready two days
before it’s due date. Everybody just hates for a person to have two
weeks to do an assignment,then come up the day before and ask for
help in it’s completion. You will earn your co-workers respect,if
you show some of that sensitivity toward them and that you truly
want to do a good job.
- Learn to celebrate your accomplishments,no matter how small or
big. Maybe you could treat yourself to a special desert at lunch on
Friday. Invite a co-worker to share in the celebration and explain
why you’re doing it. By doing so,you are admitting that you are
indeed a valuable person and an asset to your job.
There are hundreds more suggestions to help ADHD’ers in their
workplace. I’m sure now that I’ve stimulated that wonderful creativity
that exists in you as an ADHD’er,you will think of many more. If you
wish to share them please drop me an e-mail.
Dr. Frank |
