squirrel to success adhd leadership coaching
What is it?
This coaching provides effective development support to leaders or aspiring leaders with ADHD (with or without a diagnosis.) Coaching is self-led around current challenges at work (and home) but will also cover specific elements relating to the experience of a leader with ADHD. Full resources are provided to reflect on between sessions and after the coaching experience.
Please note: Support for managing people with ADHD at work is covered in our training course 'Supporting Neurodivergent staff to flourish at work.'
Why not just leadership coaching?
It's very common for leaders (especially new ones or recently promoted ones) to be offered coaching. It's a very sensible way for an organisation to support and invest in their leaders and help ensure they perform well in senior roles. However, with all the best intentions, going with a standard leadership coach is an ineffective way to support a leader with ADHD. The challenges for leaders with ADHD are extremely complex and will never truly 'go away' - our brains work differently and whilst some of us may benefit from medication to treat ADHD, pills do not bring skills, and without effective strategy support, this is a sticking plaster - trust me on this one!
A leader with ADHD will be under more pressure than a neurotypical leader and experience more self-doubt, imposter syndrome and difficulty staying on top of the relentless sea of tasks that is the modern working world (not to mention emails!) Standard organisation strategies likely won't work, and comparing themselves to other (neurotypical) colleagues will be very painful for them. A leader with ADHD will likely be masking at work, in fear of being 'found out', which takes a huge toll on their mental health and risks sickness absence.
Leaders with ADHD bring some of the most brilliant, creative, innovative solutions to a work place. We tend to think 'outside the box' and therefore often do not fit in the box. Ensuring a leader with ADHD has the space to learn what works for them, understand why they are experiencing what they are experiencing, whilst learning to accept themselves and lean into the joy of their creativity is a great recipe for high performing and happy leaders.