[Hunterspook]

Good Evening,

I just got back from a week long "Teambuilding" exercise with my office and it brought to light/reminded me of some questions I have Re: ADD and its "gifts".

Some background:
I was diagnosed when I was 6, put on Ritalin when I was 7, then taken off the Ritalin (cold turkey) when I was 18 (12 years ago). For the most part, my family is used to my way of being and I haven't had to really think about my ADD and how it makes my behavior different than that of others for many years... it just never was an issue.

Now I am in the leader role and I just totally alienated my entire team during this teambuilding exercise.

A couple of pieces of feedback:
1. They don't understand how I can go non-stop for a week with only a couple hours of sleep. -> I take it this isn't the norm for people? Most people can't just put off sleep if they are working on something? I can just push myself and get by on a couple hours of sleep, and then I hibernate (sleep really deeply) for 8-12 hours once it is over and I am good to go.

2. They say I pick up on things really fast and adapt more quickly to changing circumstances and that it isn't fair I expect the same of them. From my viewpoint I am slow and a dunce most of the time. I see the adaptation skills as "thinking on your feet" and expect them to have the same skills, if not better, as they have been in the field of study longer than myself.

I need an "ouside view" before I lose my team totally. Are the things I am doing/expecting of them "gifts" from my ADD? For the better part of the last 10 years, I have just lived life and not really tried to harness the ADD... just lived with the frustrations and did things my way. Now that I have people answering to me, I am starting to see I need to figure out what is "normal" and what is "ADD-linked" so I don't have unrealistic expectations of others.

I appreciate anyones/everyone's insight.

[sunrise]

Hunterspook, I tend to look at people as having a wide range of "normal" behaviors. There are people who can work all night, and people who do best for an hour at a time with 15 minutes in between each hour. There is just a huge range of behaviors out there, and the behaviors are influenced by many more things than being ADD. People may be anxious, stressed out, mildly depressed, mildly manic, unable to multitask, able to multitask, excitable, calm, talkative, reserved, etc. As a manager, your job is to take the employees you are given and draw the best out of them, regardless of their personality and traits. This requires that you be sensitive to a wide range of behaviors and know how to empower and inspire many different sorts of people.

I don't think it is necessarily effective to think of people as either ADD or non-ADD, as there are so many other factors that influence performance than just that one condition. Just do the best with the hand you are dealt (the employees you are given to manage). There are a lot of good seminars and workshops out there for new managers, so check with your HR department for professional development opportunities that could help you grow your management skills. Best of luck. You show sincere interest in being a good manager, and that is so important. Good for you!

I could probably.. put here DID and it's "gifts".. and it would probably sound the same as your post...
I have worked on teams.. all of my working life.. as a member and also as a project manager...

I also think that "people" in general have a whole range of "working modes" - that the most effective managers that I have had... are the ones that utilize each person in their capacity.. in other words..."slow and steady.. like rock people", "fast and ligtening speed people" ..." considering descion making people"..in my opinion there is a place for each on a team... that is why they call it a team...so that when the appropriate situation arises.. you have a "person" with that style that can effectively handle it..brings out the "best" in a person for that person.

So my advice would be to look into some training.. and if you are new to project manament.. go easy on yourself.. there is a big learning curve...don't be so hard on yourself... you will do great....

[Bloo]

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2. They say I pick up on things really fast and adapt more quickly to changing circumstances and that it isn't fair I expect the same of them. From my viewpoint I am slow and a dunce most of the time. I see the adaptation skills as "thinking on your feet" and expect them to have the same skills, if not better, as they have been in the field of study longer than myself.

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I know exactly what you're saying. I'm very adept at picking up a piece of equipment, learning within minutes/hours, and have a very hard time when someone can't do the same.

However, your team is spot-on also. It's not fair to think they have the same skills/talents/abilities as you do. Every person is different. You have the ability to think on your feet and go on gut reaction. Others need to take the time to collect data, digest it, and come up with an answer.

I've found that I need to take a step back and remember this at times. There are many different approaches and not one of them is right or wrong.

I think if you're up-front with your team by acknowledging your ADD and how you are, you might find them to be more lenient towards you and your actions. I know I tend to jump to conclusions. It happened last week at work. But when I talked to my boss and said, "I need a fresh set of eyes to look at this with me" she agreed.

ramble ramble ramble!

[eskielover]

Everything you describe as your way of doing things is exactly the way I am & I DON"T have ADD or ADHD. For me, it is my motivation that drives me into non stop working until I am finished or exhausted.....then I take a few days off & just sleep.

I also pick up on things very easily....I can look at somthing & figure out how it works.

Now, my husband is Dx'ed with adult ADD & he can't even start working on something & stops before he is done.....just getting by with the minimum amount of work he can put into something.

As far as picking up things, he is only good at a few things & can't look at anything & figure it out. He has the opinion that if he can't pay to have it done, it won't get done or fixed. He blocks doing everything with his mind

That seems to be the way his ADD plays out in his life....just the oposite of you.

I find it amazing how differently ADD/ADHD presents itself in each person.

I know from my working the way you do, it doesn't always work....it depends on how the other people around you work. For me, when I was working on a project alone, my methods worked quite well & proved to be successful. However when working in a group leadership position, it is important to tone down that method of working quite a bit. The basic rule I found that works is to keep expectations of quality up, but back off on the pushing of others & expecting them to work on your time frame...that is if you want to be a successful leader or manager.

This is a voice from someone who has been there without ADD,
Debbie