Are you wondering how to support your colleague who just disclosed that they have ADHD? Simply being supportive goes a long way in creating an environment in which your colleague can flourish. Here are 7 ideas on how to support your colleagues with ADHD.
Ask Them How You Can Support Them
A good place to begin is by asking your colleague what you can do to best support them in the workplace. If they have sought a diagnosis, it means they are aware that they have challenges and are searching for solutions. ADHD management skills and a supportive environment can go a long way to help. Here are some examples of what you can do as a colleague. For some people with ADHD, a quiet workspace may be essential. If you are going to have a contentious conversation, you may want to close your door or move a hallway conversation to eliminate an auditory distraction. Sometimes people with ADHD need uninterrupted time to work so that they can focus. Respecting a Do Not Disturb sign demonstrates your understanding of how interruptions can shatter focus. These simple courtesies demonstrate your support for your colleague.
Meetings, Agendas and Takeaways
There are some good management practices that are particularly helpful for working with others who have ADHD. If you are organizing a meeting. Set an agenda, try to keep the meeting for 60 minutes or less, and follow up with an email or written summary that describes the salient takeaways and details any assignments or delegated tasks show who is doing what by when. By the way, you don’t have to do all that work. AI can do it for you in some cases or in others just delegate it to others.
Body Doubling
Sometimes, our colleagues experience overwhelm and just can’t get started. In those situations having a body double can be helpful. A body double is a friend or colleague who is with you (in person or online) for a limited amount of time (for example an hour) while you work on a project that feels overwhelming. The participants agree in advance on the amount of time they will work together (an hour is a good place to start). They start the agreed upon time block by stating what they are going to work on, and then they work for that amount of time. At the end of the allotted time, each person says how far they got, and the participants move on. Remember going to the library with your classmates? It works like that.
Make Explicit the Implicit
Sometimes, we have to be the person who tells our ADHD colleague what the unwritten rules of the office are. People with ADHD may not pick up on things like there are certain partners or clients whose work is a priority—always. Or, another common rule that has to be explained is that timeliness is more important than perfection.
Stay Calm
Be prepared to deal with emotional outbursts. There may come the day when your colleague is losing control of their impulsivity, and you may be the person who says, “Stop, take a deep breath and listen (or think).” Emotional dysregulation is a key feature of ADHD. In a law firm setting, that dysregulation can show up as an unfiltered response to a situation or remark. Being the voice of calm of recommending a pause, a walk or even a glass of water could be a good way to de-escalate a situation before it’s too late.
Learn about ADHD
Finally, educate yourself about ADHD. A quick internet search can take you to some reputable websites (CHADD or ADDA) that will give you some background about ADHD and how it can impact others. Once you have this background knowledge, you will be better able to support your colleague.
Coaching
Another way to support your colleague with ADHD is to suggest that they consult an ADHD coach. Certified ADHD coaches can offer your colleague more comprehensive support while working with them to develop strategies to deal with their ADHD challenges. At Partner Up, all of our coaches are attorneys who have trained as coaches. We do not charge for the initial introductory call. If your colleague’s needs exceed your ability to support them, the best thing you might be able to do is to recommend that they look into ADHD coaching for lawyers.
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