Learning to lead with ADHD

When I started my Level 5 Leadership and Management apprenticeship, I knew it would be a challenge. What I didn’t realise was how much it would reshape me as a manager living with ADHD. Balancing assignments, deadlines and professional responsibilities was demanding enough. Doing it while managing ADHD turned it into something bigger – a test of resilience and growth.

Today, I have not only completed the programme with distinction, but also achieved Chartered Manager status. Looking back, I can see how the journey taught me to manage myself, lead my team more effectively and embrace ADHD as part of who I am as a leader.

• Read more: As a manager, how much do you understand ADHD?

Working with ADHD

ADHD is often misunderstood. In the current climate, it can be trivialised as if everybody has ADHD now, or reduced to the old stereotype of being the naughty boy at school. The reality is more complex. ADHD influences how I process time, focus and structure. Deadlines can creep up without warning. Open-ended tasks like reflection exercises invite procrastination. Constant workplace interruptions make it harder to concentrate. These are not minor hurdles. When left unmanaged, they can derail progress.

Watch: Embracing Neurodiversity in the Workplace

What the apprenticeship gave me was structure. Milestones, tutor check-ins and a clear end goal provided an anchor. Instead of trying to hide ADHD, I had to face it directly and develop systems that worked for me.

Strategies that made the difference

Succeeding was not about working harder; it was about working smarter. I relied on four core strategies:

• Time-blocking: Breaking tasks into defined sessions made progress feel manageable.
• Reflection cycles: Capturing learning straight after events stopped details from slipping away.
• SMART goals: Clarity in expectations reduced ambiguity for me and my team.
• Feedback loops: 360-degree feedback gave me perspective and stopped blind spots from growing.

These tools did not erase the challenges, but they gave me a framework to perform consistently.