I’ve recently been studying ADHD and how those on this spectrum (and the thing about a spectrum is that we are all on it somewhere) experience and process differently. I was particularly taken with a great summary pdf called the “5 Pillars of ADHD Strategy Guide” (download here) produced and shared by Jesse J Anderson as he readies to publish his book “Refocus“. What leapt off the page for me most was the concept that ADHD people “recognize only two times: “now” and “not now“, anchored by this quote:
ADHD is, to summarize it in a single phrase, time blindness
Russell A. Barkley, PhD
Neurotypical brains have an “Importance-based” nervous system, focussed upon a) prioritising importance, and b) rewards or consequences for doing or not doing tasks.
ADHD brains aren’t motivated by these concepts. They understand them, but they aren’t motivated by them. Yes, for neurotypical people that is really difficult to understand, but it is the reality. Instead, their nervous system is “Interest-based”, motivated by things like Interest, Challenge, Competition, Creativity, Urgency (now!), Passion.
Going back to “now” or “not now”, Jesse gives an example: “when my wife tells me dinner will be ready in 10 minutes, what I hear is “dinner is not ready now”. A really important project is due in three weeks? It’s not due now.
Jesse’s pdf gives a whole lot of guides and ideas to help ADHD people operate in an “importance-based” world. I mean, imagine just how difficult it is for students to study effectively for exams months in the future, or to even stick to a study programme for the days or week ahead? In the workplace, imagine how challenging it is to simply function when you aren’t motivated by prioritising importance or on rewards or consequences?
I hope these thoughts and Jesse’s pdf guide can help bring awareness to readers of how the brains of those on the ADHD spectrum operate and how we can then empathise and relate to them, as well as support them.
Now, for the second part of this blog, I have given today’s post the subject “Time blindness and the power of presence”, so let’s look at how we can learn from neurodiverse prioritisation based on interest rather than importance.
If we first look at the opposites to the positives of the “Importance-based” nervous system, as a coach and sounding board to leaders I so, so often find that they never “have the time” to focus deeply and get in “the zone” to really look at the truly important and highest value thinking that they are responsible for as business leaders. THey are constantly bombarded by tasks, emails, meetings, all of the important stuff, but often it is more “urgent” than “important”. As I put it to CEOs often, “the less you do the more valuable you are to your business”.
Now imagine a neurodiverse person. Another quote from Jesse’s pdf:
Everyone with ADHD knows that they can “get in the zone” at least four or five times a day.
William Dodson, MD
With all the many leaders I have worked with, I would estimate that they get in the “zone” once per week if they are lucky (or consciously plan that space). By the zone, I think of getting into a space of deep focus where they are in the “now”, fully present, unaware of time, simply in the “flow”.
Imagine if, instead, we could get into the zone four or five times per day, what would be possible in terms of that leader focussing on the truly important?
To close, I think of myself. I sense I am absolutely on the ADHD spectrum but not at the far end as I have functioned well in the “importance-based” world for long. A few self-realisations though have come to me from studying ADHD of late:
- Whilst I can be chatty and full of ideas and opinions, I have (seeking to be as objective as possible) developed a deep skill in being fully present for others and listening to them at a level that goes beyond the normal experience. Put another way, when I am with someone else, I am in the “now” timeframe at a level that likely those who are fully neurotypical do not experience.
- I noted that I do function well in the “importance-based” world, yet on reflection I have always had a massive focus on “to do” lists, task and diary reminders, advance planning. This is not because I love doing any of this, but in reality as I know I need to be supported by all of this in order to operate effectively. As one example, I have used Evernote for a decade or so and everything goes into that as well as my online calendar. Ask me what I am doing next week or even the next day and I will immediately reach for my phone. My memory is delegated to the cloud.
- I also do not enjoy managing my diary and planning that ahead. Many years ago I found myself in a hotel room in a north american city after midnight, knowing I had to get up at 6am the next day to prepare for a fully day leadership team facilitation and only having just flown in that evening from seeing another client in another city. Unfortunately, I was up late as my diary was in a mess, as multiple people wanted to move things around in the coming weeks and I was having to “bend the plates into the dishwasher”. The next day I started the process of hiring an assistant and I have one to this day. The key role they have for me is, yes, managing my diary. Now, many of my clients have an assistant who does lots of other things for them, including commonly to plan and book their travel. I was never into that, as I love the geekery of travel planning and maximising frequent flier miles and would spend countless hours immersed in that world. It stimulated my “interest-based” nervous system, I found it interesting, creative, challenging etc.
So, do read that ADHD guide, then a) think of those in your life who you can identify with any or many of the traits, then b) consider yourself and where you fall on the spectrum.