ADD/ADHD Time Management: Focus on Strengths for Success at Work

Everyone has things they do well, and things they struggle with. We tend to procrastinate on the things that we struggle with. It’s hard to get an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) brain to do what it just doesn’t want to do!

While it’s important to deal with your weaknesses, if you spend most of your time mitigating them, you’ll have little energy left for what you do well. Better to develop your strengths. Spend more time on the things you’re good at, and you’ll accomplish more. Delegate the things you aren’t good at, or just don’t enjoy. It’s good time management.

At home: When you’re dividing up household responsibilities, let the non-ADHD family members take charge of detail-oriented tasks that demand planning and organizational skills. Bill paying is a classic example. In return, take on more tasks that you do well. Remember that equal is not always equitable.

At work: Ask for opportunities to take on more responsibility in areas in which you excel, and delegate your weaknesses to another team member. If you’re a creative visionary, you should be spending more time in strategy sessions and less time filling out forms. You’re not shirking responsibility; you’re making the company more money by effectively utilizing your talents. You’re simply optimizing resources.

If you’re an entrepreneur: Hire someone -- perhaps a Virtual Assistant -- to do your routine tasks and paperwork. Think you can’t afford it? How much are you spending in time and frustration that could be put to work on income generating activities? Here again, optimize your resources.

Concerned that there’s no one capable of doing the job? Think of it as a training opportunity. Whether it’s your kids or a junior employee at work, they need to learn new skills. You’re depriving them of opportunities they may appreciate if you don’t delegate. Who knows, your weakness may be their new passion.

Take a step back: Discover your passion: Presupposed in all of this is the notion that you know exactly what your strengths are. You probably have a general idea, but the more specific you can be, the better. Things you like to do are a good clue. Make a list of your specific strengths and weaknesses with respect to job functions at home and at work. Then develop a proposal for the other parties involved. As with any negotiation process, you want to help them understand how the change will benefit them. And believe me, they will benefit.

Why continue to beat your head against the wall? Delegating the things you aren’t good at, or just plain don’t like, can make the difference between constant struggle and an enjoyable, successful life.