Focus on Attention Deficit in the Workplace

Dr. Edward Hallowell is best known as the author of Driven to Distraction a book that explains, in lay terms, ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). Each chapter helps you determine if you might have ADD as well as suggests how you could better cope and thrive with the disorder.

ADD, in my opinion, is over diagnosed by professionals and amateurs alike. Everyone seems to have it, and everyone’s got a pill to deal with it. Go to any campus during exams and you can quickly learn the street value of Adderall. I do believe ADD is real, just not as prevalent as some would wish you to believe.

Hallowell also writes about a condition he calls Attention Deficit Trait (ADT). It might appropriately fill the bill for many more of us. While he sees ADD as a neurological disorder that can be seen on an MRI, ADT is strictly environmental, meaning conditions around you influence your response and behavior. As he explained in his Harvard Business Review article, it’s when your circuits are overloaded and there’s the race to nowhere.

Brain overload shifts behavior from the reasonable, logical, productive, executive function of the brain to the most primitive part. You find yourself in a fear-riddled survival mode. There is panic and guilt over a missed deadline, a massive amount of emails, or multiple projects. Creativity ceases because getting things done is now the goal and that feels insurmountable. Answers become either black or white, yes or no; it’s the only way not to be eaten by the tiger. You can’t focus and the stress is always increasing in the kinetic environment. This is when and how ADT raises its nasty head.

How can a leader help prevent the Attention Deficit Trait from spreading (it is contagious) among the team members?

1. Reduce the drama. Set a positive tone in the workplace. Be the model of self-control and balance. Watch your language, avoiding negativity or catastrophic phrases. Optimism is highly desirable and effective.
2. Increase contact with the staff. Humans interacting with other humans has a calming effect on everyone. People feel less alone or abandoned. This connecting can be quick and casual, but it needs to happen. The supervisor who never leaves their desk is one who can’t see or hear the level of stress among the employees. She also can’t relieve the anxiety.
3. Trust. When trust is missing, suspicion fills the void and that feeling produces stress and distraction (the toxins of ADT). Micromanaging is an example of mistrust. So is controlled communication (“they don’t need to know”). Going back on your word or changing your mind without a legitimate reason creates an atmosphere of distrust and increases the heat.
4. Welcome requests for help. An atmosphere of “your dumb if you don’t know this” is in itself thoughtless as well as dangerous. People become fearful to admit they are not sure or confused. They don’t want to appear incompetent among their peers, so they say nothing. They hold it in, let the stress take over, and jump to a fear-driven decision. Inviting questions, admitting you don’t know everything, and encouraging collaboration are antidotes to both types of attention deficit.
5. Availability of resources. There are times when people’s stress, work or personal issues, incapacitates them and are beyond the expertise of the supervisor. The sophisticated workplace has knowledge of, and access to, mental health resources for such challenges and a non-judgmental, encouraging, attitude towards employees seeking professional help.

Here are a few stress-reducing behaviors you might want to try to avoid Attention Deficit Trait.

Sleep: Need I to say more?

Diet: Eating well and often feeds the brain with nutrients not just stimulants.

Exercise: Not only stabilizes your hormone levels but also relieves the tension you feel in your body. It’s not a luxury, it’s essential. During the workday stand up and walk around.

Break down tasks: Dissect the problem before diving in. Get your priorities in order. Measure the value of what you are doing and eliminate those things that have little worth. Clear the decks (literally and mentally) to open your mind. Rid uncertainty, which is a big stress producer.

Fast think vs. deep think: Aim for the latter.

Energy Management: An important part of staying focused and getting things done is knowing when you are at your best. Attack the most difficult or complicated problems during your best time and push the repetitious and mundane to your slump period.

Measure the price: Ask yourself what is this overload costing me? Is it worth it?

If you find yourself getting distracted in the workplace; having difficulty keeping tabs on the many tasks and responsibilities on your plate, or wondering, “is it me or them?” you might be suffering from ADT. Attention deficit is taxing on the mind and the body. Distraction can be dangerous. It ultimately does not help you reach your goals or aspirations. Understanding and appreciating what is going on is a big part of the battle. Taking steps mentioned above could help you get some relief.