St. Louis Business Journal
ADD at Work

By Anna Navarro

June 2004 - There are many adults in the workplace today who struggle because they have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) that has never been diagnosed.  Sometimes they are even mistakenly labeled stupid, lazy, unproductive or morally deficient, when in reality they are dealing with a neurological condition that can be treated.

Often individuals with ADD are very bright and have a good work ethic.  But their brains work differently than most people's and they need help accommodating that difference.

The symptoms of ADD all have to do with managing attention.  But they are very varied and often appear contradictory, so it can be hard for non-experts to recognize.  They include:

• Inattention / Distractibility - can't concentrate on one thing for any length of time.

• Hyperfocussing - focussing on one thing to the exclusion of everything else.

• Hyperactivity / Restlessness - hard to sit still

• Need for Stimulation / Intolerance of Routine - bored easily, bad at details

• Poor Memory

• Trouble Managing Time - often late

• Difficulty Organizing Things

What is perhaps most distressing about adults with undiagnosed ADD is that if they understood their situation, they'd have a much better chance of being happy and successful at work.

In fact, there are aspects of ADD that can actually be helpful in some jobs. 

For example: being distractible can translate into being super-observant of minute changes in an environment - a useful trait in a restaurant owner.  Internal distraction can translate into the rich imagination required of TV sitcom writers.  Hyperfocussing, with its enormous capacity to concentrate, can be highly valued in a design engineer.  Someone in the media might channel impulsivity into the ability to make quick responses.  These strengths need to be balanced, of course, with coping mechanisms such as time management techniques, to deal with the downsides of ADD.

Seen from the eyes of someone with ADD, the rest of us might seem to suffer from Attention Excess Disorder.  Our symptoms could be seen as an excessive need for routine, low tolerance for change or risk, limited capacity to respond quickly in a crisis, slow decision making and having a limited capacity for innovation.  It all depends on your perspective.

There are some activities that people with ADD should seek out in their work.  Depending on their pattern of symptoms, they should look for opportunities that provide change and variety, movement, big picture thinking, total immersion, creativity and a high degree of independent functioning.

People with ADD should also try to avoid jobs that require certain activities such as paperwork, detail (except if it permits hyperfocussing), day-to-day management and long term projects.

A good career match is important for everyone but it is essential for people with ADD.  Since the main issue in ADD is the management of attention, it is nearly impossible for adults with ADD to succeed in careers that don't interest them. A good match will take advantage of their strengths and minimize their weaknesses.  It will be interesting enough to "grab" their attention and will be a good fit with the rest of their life.

In my work as a career strategist, I have helped people with ADD get out of jobs where they were destined for failure and into jobs where they could be successful.  I've helped a physician with a private practice become a commercial real estate broker, and a classroom teacher become a public relations consultant.  Some clients have found they prefer having several part-time jobs to one full-time job.  Others have become self-employed by teaming with partners whose primary strength was detail work.

If you want to learn more about ADD, a good starting place is an excellent book, ADD In the Workplace  by Kathleen Nadeau, available in paperback.  The Attention Deficit Disorder Association is a national organization that provides information, resources and networking for adults (484-945-2101).  And the ADD Association of Missouri's Adult Support Groups can provide referrals to local resources (314-963-4655).

The best way to deal with ADD involves a three-step strategy.  First, get a professional diagnosis and clarification of the specific symptoms you manifest.

Second, find a career that plays to your strengths and minimizes your weaknesses.  Third, learn specific skills for coping with the things you aren't good at, including how to partner with those who have the strengths you lack. Come to think of it, this is a very good overall strategy for everyone, with or without ADD.

Anna Navarro is the founder of Work Transitions, a nationwide career consulting firm that trains independent career strategists and consults with individual clients.

This column was originally published by the St. Louis Business Journal. The actual title of the column and date in which it appeared in the Business Journal may be slightly different from what appears on WorkTransitions.com.