ADHD in the workplace
Alice Gent
Alice works in press and communications and was diagnosed with ADHD soon after she left university and got her first job.
Tell us about yourself…
I’m from Herefordshire in the West Midlands, and grew up in a tiny village in the Welsh borders. I then studied History at university, focussing on gender history in the USSR. After that I moved to London and have worked in the education sector ever since, now specialised in communications.
I was diagnosed with ADHD…
When I was 21, a few months out of university and a few months into my first job (and covid) which made for interesting timing. For the first few years in my career I didn’t feel able to choose a job which played to my strengths – not least because I wasn’t yet certain what they were. But I think I’ve landed on my feet with comms as the fast paced, short term projects are far easier for me to manage and motivate myself for.
A typical work day for me …
Usually I’ll deal with at least two media enquiries – either for comments or interview, which I’ll then triage with the policy team, draft and get signed off by senior representatives. But what I love most about comms is how unpredictable it is! So I could very well be offsite at the BBC fielding an interview or helping to prepare a draft briefing for a media appearance.
The biggest challenge I feel I face is …
A misunderstanding of the complexities of ADHD. I think people often think of those with ADHD as hyperactive and disruptive 10-year-old boys when the reality is far more nuanced. I often find the emotional dysregulation aspect of my diagnosis to be far more difficult than organisation or fidgeting, but this is poorly understood by wider society. I also often find social situations difficult as I do not read or react to social interactions in the same way as neurotypical people, so I do wish there was a better understanding of that.
Perceptions of ADHD are changing …
Especially with regard to women and minority groups having better access to testing and treatment! But there’s still a long way to go, and further research into the prevalence of ADHD, and other developmental disorders and learning difficulties, will help go a long way to further destigmatising neurodivergences both at work and more widely.
The advice I’d give to others managing ADHD in the workplace is….
It’s ok to feel overwhelmed! I used to think that feeling overwhelmed at work was a sign I was failing, but I actually just learned to recognise that it meant I should ask for help and take a break. I think lots of neurodiverse people can find trying to operate in a world that’s not built for them to be really tiring, especially at work, so it’s ok to say something is too much, and you need to take a breather – 9 times out of 10, colleagues have been really understanding. Also, ask for deadlines. Always deadlines.
The best way managers and colleagues can support those with ADHD are …
There are two sides to this I suppose. Emotionally, I’d say patience and curiosity are the biggest advantages. I find I work best with teams who are inquisitive about my ADHD and want to find ways to work around it. Practically, it’s just deadlines.
What I do to switch off from work…
Having spent a lot of my life laughing at people who are overly invested in exercise, I have recently restarted running, along with my weekly netball, and I’ve found it really helpful with managing anxiety and also a feeling of achievement when I drag myself out on horrible winter evenings. I also love folk music, and going to trad nights at some of London’s old folk clubs.
