James Laughlin argues ADHD isn't a deficit but a difference: people with ADHD have plenty of attention, just less control over where it lands. They gravitate toward novelty and interest instead of what others say matters. Breaking tasks into steps and matching roles to strengths works better than pushing harder.
ADHD is attention Deficit hyperactivity disorder. It's actually a really crappy name. People with ADHD do not have an attention deficit. They have plenty of attention. It's just that they can't control where that attention goes. The neurotypical brain is based on importance. The ADHD brain is based on interest and novelty. I get really frustrated with people going, oh, doesn't everyone have that nowadays? I'm like, oh God, like give me a break. The neurotypical person can go, that's important. My boss told me to do it. ADHD are, that can be harder for them because their brain wants to go to what they're interested in. It's not a choice. They're not sitting there and going, you know what, I'm not going to do that report because I just don't want to. Because it looks like they don't want to. Right? But it's actually that their brain can't do it. Break down tasks and play to your team's strengths if you can do it in a non competitive way but also making it, gamifying it a little bit. If you've got someone whose key strength is love of learning, let them do the research part. Like let them like engage them about the why there's no limit to what they can do.
