ADHD and Leadership

Owning ADHD: From Distraction to Superpower

Some of the most creative and influential leaders are believed to have ADHD; Richard Branson, Ingvar Kamprad (IKEA), JetBlue's David Neeleman, and even visionaries like Walt Disney and Albert Einstein.

While these associations remain speculative, what isn’t speculation is this:

People with ADHD are up to 300% more likely to start their own business.

Why? Because ADHD comes with gifts — creative thinking, risk-taking, resilience, adaptability, and a fierce desire to do things differently.

From Diagnosis to Discovery

I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. My child has the same diagnosis. Neither of us is medicated. We’ve had to learn how to function in a world that doesn’t always celebrate neurodivergence. But through patience, structure, and compassion, we’ve both learned to navigate life with more grace.

As a coach, I’ve worked with many leaders with ADHD, and what I see in all of them is this: ADHD is not a disorder; it’s a different way of engaging with the world. One that comes with intensity, sensitivity, and deep brilliance when harnessed with care.

The Double-Edged Sword

ADHD can bring challenges — procrastination, disorganization, forgetfulness, and a serious aversion to boredom. Routine tasks can feel excruciating. But underneath these struggles are often superhuman capabilities:

• Hyper-focus: When we're into something, we can lose ourselves in it for hours — producing incredible results.

• Energy and enthusiasm: Especially when doing what we love, our energy becomes contagious.

• Big-picture thinking: ADHDers are often natural visionaries, connecting ideas others don’t see.

• Creativity: There is no “off” switch on our imagination.

• Emotional sensitivity: High emotional intelligence and empathy often make us powerful relational leaders.

  
  

From Reactive to Proactive

One of the most important shifts for ADHD leaders is moving from being reactive with time to being proactive.

Time management is our holy grail.

And it doesn’t come naturally — we must practice it.

Simple Habits That Help

• Spend 10–20 minutes at the end of each day planning the next.

• Build a habit of daily and weekly foresight. Planning calms anxiety and creates focus.

• Use your calendar as a tool — block time for meetings, tasks, and off time.

• Don’t overbook yourself. Leave space to breathe.

• Focus on ONE thing at a time. Then the next ONE thing.

“What gets scheduled is what gets done.”

Time-Blocking: Your Secret Weapon

Try this for 30 days: Don’t move anything on your calendar unless you absolutely must.

Benefits include:

• A realistic view of your time and energy

• Better prioritization of what truly matters

• Awareness of how long things actually take

We often believe we can do 60 things in a day - we can’t. ADHD brains are fast, but reality has its own pace. Remember: magical time does not exist.

Affirmations for Focus

• WITH STRUCTURE COMES FREEDOM.

• SYSTEMS BRING COMFORT, CONFIDENCE, AND CALM.

• TIME MANAGEMENT IS A WIN-WIN.

We don’t need rigid rules — we need rhythms that work for us. Systems that support our creativity, not suppress it. With structure, we don’t lose freedom - we expand it.

Stay Open. Stay Growing.

ADHDers are naturally open-minded. That openness is our edge. Our challenge is to stay curious about better systems, healthier habits, and more self-compassion.

You don’t need to be fixed. You need to be understood, especially by yourself.

Let ADHD be your portal to creativity, connection, and leadership that doesn’t look like anyone else’s.

You’re not broken. You’re just wired differently. And different is brilliant.