ABOUT THIS EPISODE
This week, I'm joined again by Helen Garcia, discussing her role as an ADHD coach who has carved out a unique and much-needed role in today’s workplaces. We explore what it means to support neurodivergent employees, how ADHD shows up in professional environments, and why understanding brain diversity is crucial to creating more inclusive and productive teams.
⬇️ Connect with Helen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helengarcia-agile/
www.helen-garcia.com Book a call: https://calendar.app.google/sgianHrzrJdwqHQa6Hear Helen talk about being a scrum master: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0wqUArBhQv5sA7yCQLA34e?si=hsaRHCYsQXqYTh0phhzSCQ
Explore neurodiversity in the workplace: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/getting-a-job/neurodiversity-in-the-workplace
Learn more about looking after your mental health at university: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/applying-for-university/university-life/looking-after-your-mental-health-at-university/
---
Leave us a review:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/future-you-achieve-your-career-goals/id1477627168
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3uXOufxy2nDl7BvnuAt655?si=68bf143ae52b4309
📝 Take the job match quiz: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-match
📩 Follow Future You on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futureyou_pod/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@futureyou_pod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@futureyoupod
📜 Transcript of this episode: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/podcasts/future-you-podcast-transcripts
SHOW NOTES 🔗
TRANSCRIPT 🔗
00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,160
Hello and welcome back to Future You.
2
00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:05,240
The podcast brought to you
by graduate careers experts Prospects.
3
00:00:05,520 --> 00:00:08,520
I'm your host, Emily Slade,
and in this episode I chat to
4
00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:13,200
Helen Garcia, who rejoins me
to discuss her role as an ADHD coach.
5
00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:16,040
Okay, so I am Helen Garcia.
6
00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:17,360
I'm an ADHD coach.
7
00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:19,800
Strategies and communication.
8
00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:24,280
I'm a credited and qualified coach,
so credited with the Association
9
00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:29,120
for coaching and a qualifying diploma,
which I'll talk about a little bit later,
10
00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:32,720
but also qualified
as a professional ADHD coach.
11
00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:33,840
So what drew you.
12
00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:36,920
To become an ADHD coach
in the first place?
13
00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:39,560
And then what process
did you take to become one?
14
00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,680
Okay, so my coaching life
15
00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:46,640
started back in 2017.
16
00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:51,280
So it started really around the agile
coach sort of thing.
17
00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:54,480
So I trained properly as a scrum master.
18
00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:55,960
We focused on that.
19
00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:57,280
And then in Scrum Mastery
20
00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:00,280
there's percentage of your job
that really looks at team coaching.
21
00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:03,320
So you're helping the team
look at their processes and improve them.
22
00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:06,360
And part of what I found out
that was actually
23
00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:08,160
you know,
we've got all these processes in place,
24
00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:12,520
but we're still having this pressure
and the stress on on the team.
25
00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:16,600
And actually their wellbeing
is perhaps not the best that it could be.
26
00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:19,600
So I started to look a little bit
more into coaching.
27
00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,200
So in 2020 I started a diploma.
28
00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:24,320
In coaching.
29
00:01:24,320 --> 00:01:26,720
And I qualified in 2022.
30
00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:30,400
And it was a really, really good cause
that I'd done which was around
31
00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:32,080
you looked at multiple different areas,
32
00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:35,080
so you looked at stress,
you've looked at psychology coaching.
33
00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:38,960
You looked at the differences
between coaching and there.
34
00:01:38,960 --> 00:01:43,160
Hey, as well as counseling,
you looked at communication,
35
00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:45,480
just multiple different things,
which really good.
36
00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:49,800
And also cognitive behavioral coaching,
which I found particularly interesting
37
00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:50,760
because it's around,
38
00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:55,800
you know, how do our cognitions,
our thoughts impact our behaviors
39
00:01:56,040 --> 00:02:00,000
and how if we change the way we think,
could we change the way that we behave?
40
00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:05,160
Which is actually quite interesting
in terms of, ADHD, the link to ADHD.
41
00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:06,080
So what?
42
00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:10,880
I mean, agile coaching, which is around,
you know, breaking things down into small
43
00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:14,280
bite sized pieces and in my mind,
making things fun to get things done.
44
00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:17,880
You also had this cognitive behavioral
link as well around.
45
00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:18,240
Okay.
46
00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:22,000
So especially women with ADHD
can be very noisy in your head.
47
00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:23,880
How can we start to look at that
48
00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:27,640
in order to support our behaviors
in the day to day?
49
00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:30,000
So that was really great.
50
00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:34,120
And then I met, a lady called a step out
51
00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:37,440
and she was just really inspiring for me.
52
00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:42,400
So she's an ADHD coach,
and she's got quite a lot of experience
53
00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:45,680
and was talking about the different traits
and symptoms of ADHD.
54
00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:48,840
And as she was talking for,
I think it was an hour or two hours,
55
00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:52,960
I just couldn't stop being like,
oh my God, this is me.
56
00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:56,920
Like every thing that you're
talking about, I can just relate in
57
00:02:56,920 --> 00:03:02,520
so many ways, which was a real light
bulb moment to me, actually, because I,
58
00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:07,560
I felt quite, I guess, quite alone
and quite disorganized
59
00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:09,800
and just not really knowing
what was going on with me.
60
00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:12,080
Like,
I felt a little like I was going mad.
61
00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:16,680
And then I guess the past five years,
generally through that coaching
62
00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:19,720
journey, have been quite difficult
because you do do a lot of reflection.
63
00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:22,560
You do, you do a lot of self-development.
64
00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:27,120
You discover a lot about yourself, which
is difficult and challenging at times.
65
00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:29,680
But I stopped doing certain things.
66
00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:32,400
I stopped doing a lot of exercise,
for example.
67
00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:34,520
And I'll come back to why
there is a rule in in a minute.
68
00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:37,080
But I became quite depressed.
69
00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:40,080
My anxiety levels just rocketed.
70
00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,240
I moved house, I you job.
71
00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:46,680
I had a whole ton of things
that were going on, and actually
72
00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:49,680
my day to day
was really becoming quite unmanageable.
73
00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:54,000
Going to the doctor
and trying to describe this giant
74
00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:58,640
to a therapist
that didn't really understand ADHD
75
00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:02,000
just basically came down
to where you're just, you know, you're
76
00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:03,920
you're stressed
and you're a little bit depressed.
77
00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:08,560
So I had all of this going on
and to a point where I heard about ESA's
78
00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:12,360
Marina course
achievement course in January this year,
79
00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:16,800
and it was finally kind of meeting people
that were like me
80
00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:21,640
and that had that,
I don't know, the same sort of vibe,
81
00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:23,160
because there was
a lot of a lot of things.
82
00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:26,400
It's not just about being,
you know, destructive and hyperactive.
83
00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:28,280
It's many things in between that.
84
00:04:28,280 --> 00:04:32,720
So for three months,
I, I learned about ADHD.
85
00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:37,080
I learned about strategies and tools
that could support my ADHD,
86
00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:38,680
which was amazing.
87
00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:43,320
I finally got the guts to get actually
a private diagnosis,
88
00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:48,120
which came out as dyslexia
and as attention more attention deficit.
89
00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:53,880
What I did is I used to be known as
and this was like the best thing that
90
00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:57,880
ever happened to me because I was like,
oh my God, I now have an ulcer.
91
00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:00,680
It's not. Yeah,
of course I'm depressed and anxious.
92
00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,600
I'm like, God, like with everything going
on, I definitely that.
93
00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:05,680
I mean, the doctors were wrong, right?
94
00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:08,720
But he described medication just for
95
00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:11,960
that is definitely not
that wasn't the answer.
96
00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:16,040
So after that I said, yeah,
I qualified as an ADHD coach,
97
00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:19,040
obviously
with life experience in it as well.
98
00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:24,000
And I decided I never want anybody else
to go through what I going through
99
00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:29,040
because the spiral is really it's
very depressed.
100
00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:32,160
Say to me, you can go from being,
you know, on top of the moon
101
00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:35,760
to be suicidal and that's horrible.
102
00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:41,400
And actually that isn't normal and it's
okay and we should talk about it more.
103
00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:44,400
And I don't want other people
to go through that.
104
00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:46,520
So that's why I made that change was like,
you know what,
105
00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:47,840
I need to make my focus different.
106
00:05:47,840 --> 00:05:52,880
I need to support
professionals in thriving
107
00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:56,880
and not just trying to survive the day
to day.
108
00:05:56,880 --> 00:05:58,480
Yeah, fantastic.
109
00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:00,600
That's brilliant.
So you've you've sort of touched on it
110
00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:04,080
there in terms of
what does the role entail.
111
00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:06,640
Was there anything else
that you wanted to mention?
112
00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:07,040
Yeah.
113
00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:10,080
So I think it's interesting
because I'm not sure if I,
114
00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:15,520
if it's necessarily qualifying
as it is a role, it is a in a sense,
115
00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:18,480
but it's really quite difficult
because we don't necessarily at this point
116
00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:23,200
in time, the in 2035 have ADHD coaches
within organizations.
117
00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:26,840
I think if that is a route
that people would go down as a starter,
118
00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:30,880
and the sort of thing I did was,
hey guys, I have ADHD,
119
00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:33,600
I want to raise awareness about it
because there's multiple things
120
00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:36,280
and multiple strengths
that we can bring in this different things
121
00:06:36,280 --> 00:06:38,640
that we can do in organizations
to help people.
122
00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:42,040
But also, you know,
I want to be actively doing that
123
00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:44,960
because it's
it is hard in the coaching world
124
00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:48,240
to just suddenly have a coaching business
and, you know, thrive off of that
125
00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:50,720
and be able to live off of it.
So that's the first step.
126
00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:54,960
I think I'd probably add to that
in terms of is it a role at the moment?
127
00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,160
No. Do I have a vision for it
to be a role?
128
00:06:57,160 --> 00:06:58,440
I really hope so.
129
00:06:59,840 --> 00:07:01,200
That would be amazing.
130
00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:01,760
In the future
131
00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:05,320
if actually we could have not ADHD coaches
with neurodiversity coaches
132
00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:09,080
pinned within companies to get to support
the people that that are there.
133
00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:14,000
The other thing I guess just to touch on
is around the role,
134
00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:19,120
and I think it's important, is coaching
itself is very much based around venues,
135
00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:23,000
and I think this is what drew me to
to coaching in the first place.
136
00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:24,960
When I started with my scrum mastery
137
00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:27,960
and team coaching is
it was all based around values,
138
00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:31,320
and to understand yourself
and your values is really important.
139
00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:34,400
So it's not a role in the sense
that you are trained.
140
00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:37,560
And then you are a coach
and you're a great coach and help people.
141
00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:38,880
I think it's about more than that.
142
00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:40,880
It involves a lot of self-development.
143
00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:43,720
So I think that probably isn't
the standard answer.
144
00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:46,640
When you come to a role like what is it
that you do your day to day?
145
00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:48,320
But it is part of that learning
146
00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:52,080
how to grow and and develop.
147
00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:56,560
I think another part of the role as well
is understanding your boundaries,
148
00:07:56,960 --> 00:08:02,080
being really able to put a sort of ring
fence you your boundaries
149
00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:06,240
because you come across
lots of different types of problems.
150
00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:10,440
And in the coaching world,
just generically, obviously,
151
00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:15,000
I, I'm a believer in coaching
is looking at the now and the future
152
00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:20,840
and how actually we can be better at
or we can make life easier in the future
153
00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:24,720
if we are able to adapt and use different
strategies and tools to put in place.
154
00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:28,680
And it's not about looking at the past,
and it can be difficult in coaching
155
00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:29,400
to not do that.
156
00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:31,720
Somebody comes with you
and they sort of offload
157
00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:33,360
and sometimes they can go down. So
158
00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:36,920
knowing your boundaries, saying, you know,
the coaching, coaching is about this.
159
00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:40,400
And I'd say this is obviously
a very difficult situation.
160
00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:42,760
But how can we start to look forward?
161
00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:44,760
How can we put things in place
in order to do that?
162
00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:49,240
Because it becomes a very fine line
to therapy and and counseling.
163
00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:51,200
If you start to sit back
and actually as coaches,
164
00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:54,360
we're not equipped, more qualified
to get to deal with that.
165
00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:58,240
So, I think that's a good call out
in terms of,
166
00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:01,640
you know, the role of what it entails
around your boundaries and your values.
167
00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:05,120
There's other things I think that are also
important is coaching
168
00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:08,000
and obviously self-employed,
that is can be quite lonely.
169
00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:11,960
So in your role again, another important
thing is if you want to go into coaching,
170
00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:13,960
you want to take that path is
171
00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:16,800
there are so many things
that you can learn about within coaching.
172
00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:18,800
There's so many communities meet out.
173
00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:22,200
Well, actually, there was a first ADHD
conference this year.
174
00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:26,760
The again, the barrier and her team ran
and the one there's one next year.
175
00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:28,600
Well I don't think the dates come out
for that yet.
176
00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:31,880
But going to these things
and really learning from your peers
177
00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:36,440
because everybody has such a different way
of coaching and a different,
178
00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:40,560
you know, that there's so many different
types of coaches out there that actually
179
00:09:40,560 --> 00:09:44,080
it's great to be able to speak
and learn from others.
180
00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:45,120
And I think I'd recommend that
181
00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:49,400
for all, all types of roles
and all types of careers, but especially
182
00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:53,520
when it's one that could be quite siloed
and sort of moving on from
183
00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:57,720
that as well around supervision,
especially as an idea coach.
184
00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:03,520
Obviously with ADHD you're dealing
with various different things, ADHD, how
185
00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:08,040
it has, been shown, I think in research
that there can be trauma.
186
00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:11,760
And from trauma sometimes you can develop
so many hrd around it.
187
00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:13,440
Lots of other things
can circle around that.
188
00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:17,520
So you're dealing with quite,
serious issues sometimes,
189
00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:20,760
although you'll say, you know, we're here
now, we're looking to the future
190
00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:21,960
of how we can change that.
191
00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:23,200
There's a history of that, right?
192
00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:25,400
There's there's a history for a person.
193
00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:28,400
So making sure that you go
to supervision on a regular basis,
194
00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:32,760
not only for your coaches
and their wellbeing and their,
195
00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:35,640
their journey, but also your own as well,
196
00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:39,440
because it can be quite rewarding,
but also quite draining.
197
00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:43,080
And as an accredited coach,
you actually have to have supervision.
198
00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:47,040
So it's based on a percentage
of the amount of coaching you do.
199
00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:50,680
Or in my case,
I just like to have supervision every two
200
00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:53,640
to to three,
three months or as and when I need to.
201
00:10:55,560 --> 00:10:57,120
Let's now veer
202
00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:01,200
into understanding ADHD itself a bit more.
203
00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:05,480
So how does it present itself
and how can it impact the workplace?
204
00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:09,000
And I imagine there's not going to be
a one word answer for this. No.
205
00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:13,400
And actually it's it's an interesting
question actually, because you're right.
206
00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:15,120
It's not a bad word. Answer.
207
00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:19,080
There's a not,
you know, a one presentation meets all,
208
00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:23,280
and I think especially,
209
00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:27,280
between men, male
210
00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:30,800
and female
presentation of ADHD can be different.
211
00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:32,400
Not always.
212
00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,840
But it's, it's thought to be that around,
213
00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:40,320
men, it's probably a little bit
more presented outwardly.
214
00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:44,880
So there's a lot more, energy,
maybe a lot more.
215
00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:45,520
Yeah.
216
00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:48,040
That's how I look at
it is probably a fair way to describe it.
217
00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:51,360
And for women, some of that hyperactivity
is actually within the head.
218
00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:54,680
So it's very noisy, very noisy in the edge
rather than outside the head,
219
00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:55,920
which does present different.
220
00:11:55,920 --> 00:12:00,480
And I think for quite a long time,
it was just presumed that men had ADHD,
221
00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:04,200
because it was a lot more obvious
in that sense.
222
00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:06,600
And actually,
that's obviously not the case.
223
00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:10,120
Anybody could get ADHD or have ADHD,
I should say.
224
00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:13,680
So yeah. So that's that's one thing.
225
00:12:13,680 --> 00:12:17,520
I think a lot of the time,
we also focus on some of the elements that
226
00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:22,200
are quite obvious, like people talk about,
you know, the ad and attention deficit.
227
00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:27,000
So being distracted, hyperactivity being,
you know, maybe a bit more repulsive,
228
00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:31,080
hyperactive, potentially
that could the case of disorganization.
229
00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:36,600
But I'd like to focus more on
what are the different ways that we think,
230
00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:42,000
in, in comparison,
maybe to, neurotypical person,
231
00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:45,920
obviously we're all diverse
as, as people where we been.
232
00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:49,280
That's just a natural
sort of way of our being. But,
233
00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:52,080
particularly for
234
00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:56,040
ADHD is like we have the ability
to have quite divergent thinking,
235
00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:02,000
which is really exciting
because actually that brings like novel
236
00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:05,160
new approaches, to the way that we,
237
00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:07,360
we can see things.
238
00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:10,360
So it's not always that linear path
the way that we think.
239
00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:13,560
It is could be more of,
240
00:13:13,560 --> 00:13:16,840
I should I like to describe this
in a numerical fashion of.
241
00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:18,600
Yeah, yeah, I see. Cool.
242
00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:22,280
Like the one, two, three, four,
five being a bit more linear
243
00:13:22,680 --> 00:13:28,200
in my head,
it might be seven 140 to 20, 38 nine,
244
00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:31,440
but the beauty of that
is that we do see things differently.
245
00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:36,040
And particularly in complex
or chaotic environments.
246
00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:37,440
I work really well.
247
00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:41,600
And the opposite,
I guess sometimes I could create complex
248
00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:44,560
and chaotic environments
because it kind of suits me,
249
00:13:44,560 --> 00:13:47,560
but it may not suit other people
if you say what I mean.
250
00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:48,760
Yeah, absolutely.
251
00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:52,440
So I think there's, there's definitely
helpful and unhelpful things about that.
252
00:13:52,680 --> 00:13:54,520
Yeah. Yeah.
253
00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:57,520
Clearly, like for centuries now,
254
00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:02,640
people will have been neurodiverse
and they just would have gone undiagnosed
255
00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:05,720
and sort of lived
through the workplace with that.
256
00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:11,760
So before people started getting diagnosis
and before people started understanding
257
00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:16,840
how their brains worked and were able
to reach out and get this sort of support,
258
00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:21,240
were they just were
there just sort of 50% of the workforce
259
00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:24,800
having to like, figure it out themselves?
260
00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:26,880
Does that make sense?
261
00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:28,440
It yeah, it does make total sense.
262
00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:30,520
I think it's a really good question.
263
00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:35,720
So I think, oh, if googling on this,
like how we, how the population does have
264
00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:40,440
ADHD, do we think
can it came up to 3.6% of the population,
265
00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:44,280
I think is estimated to have ADHD
at this point in time.
266
00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:46,840
So it's still a really,
really small percentage.
267
00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:53,160
But like you said, it's the not
recognizing that and having the ability.
268
00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:56,880
I think we talk about
if it's heard of masking, a lot.
269
00:14:56,880 --> 00:15:02,480
So basically your child,
you find your a sign,
270
00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:06,280
I guess I think it would be fair
that you're kind of fighting your,
271
00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:10,520
your natural behaviors
in order to be like, no, I can do this.
272
00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:13,480
I can work in a 9 to 5 organization.
273
00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:15,760
I can deal with the noise around me.
274
00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,800
I can deal with somebody, say to me,
you know, do
275
00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:22,080
you think you could just get this,
you know, not give you a deadline?
276
00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:26,640
And so you start to change, start to mask.
277
00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:27,160
Sorry.
278
00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:28,680
Some of those behaviors,
279
00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:33,440
which is theory for a little while,
actually, when I was learning about ADHD,
280
00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:35,040
I was like,
what's really the problem with that?
281
00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:38,000
Because actually that means you're
just kind of behaving a bit more
282
00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:40,720
as, as normal.
283
00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:44,800
But the problem with that
is that it's really training.
284
00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:48,240
So part of my story is really,
285
00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:55,360
I suppose even about six, maybe six, nine
months ago might be could be before then.
286
00:15:55,640 --> 00:16:00,400
I was having to go to bed in the afternoon
and I get terrible, terrible headaches.
287
00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:04,480
I'd have to go to sleep,
if anything was, like, too exciting or too
288
00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:08,040
stressful for me, because for years
and years and years and I've just been
289
00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:11,560
just pretending
that I could do multiple things,
290
00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:15,560
and I could have one social event
after another after a hard day at work.
291
00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:19,920
And maybe somebody just dropping
something on my desk at the last minute
292
00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:21,080
and all of those things.
293
00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:24,520
I mean, I don't know if I've actually
it was having an impact on me
294
00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:28,920
that I didn't realize
was quite detrimental to my wellbeing.
295
00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:32,640
Because when you're, you know,
I consider myself quite young,
296
00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:37,400
and I
don't feel like I should be having to,
297
00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:41,280
you know, have these moments,
these massive bad burnout moments
298
00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:44,280
where I just need to go to bed
because actually, a carpet sense, it's,
299
00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:45,840
it's those sorts of impacts.
300
00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:49,560
And as you say,
you might appear to be normal
301
00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:52,840
and let's say functioning a
9 to 5 at work.
302
00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:56,400
But outside of those hours,
how is that person surviving?
303
00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:00,120
And what we really want is people at work.
304
00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:03,120
It's not just to come to,
you know, come to work
305
00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:06,960
because it's a job, but actually thriving
and being in an environment
306
00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:11,560
that really energizes that person
and helps them, you know, live a,
307
00:17:12,360 --> 00:17:15,360
you know, a good life,
which is both inside and outside.
308
00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:16,800
Does that alter your question?
309
00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:18,960
Yeah. No, it does it
it makes complete sense.
310
00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:22,200
And it it leads quite nicely actually,
into what advice do you have
311
00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:25,440
for workplaces
to help support the neurodivergent staff.
312
00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:27,880
Yes. Yeah.
313
00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:31,760
So I think this is an interesting one
because often when I,
314
00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:36,160
when I speak with immunizations
about supporting support in their staff,
315
00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:39,480
often there's this, okay, so we need to,
316
00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:44,040
give spaces for ADHD or neurodiverse
people,
317
00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:48,800
to be able to get away setting aside
a group, or we had to dim the lights
318
00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:53,360
or have, different kind of furnishings
or textures or things like that.
319
00:17:53,360 --> 00:17:59,240
And I know people in technical
would say things that's all really good.
320
00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:00,640
Like, that is a good thing to do, right?
321
00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:03,280
That's helpful because it does get space.
322
00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:05,320
But why are we not thinking
broader than that?
323
00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:08,640
Because actually we need to be thinking,
well, as a manager,
324
00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:12,160
if I'm a manager with ADHD
or a manager who has ADHD, who,
325
00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:16,040
yeah, coaches or colleagues,
326
00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:19,400
then how do I actually communicate
with that person
327
00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:23,320
and how does that person, how can I help
that person communicate with me?
328
00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:26,320
Because I believe the city way thing
we often talk about, you know,
329
00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:28,720
we've been literally in the,
330
00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:31,840
you know, at school at neurotypical well,
for many years.
331
00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:35,000
We need to meet changing needs,
but we also need to
332
00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:39,200
understand how other people like
to communicate, because I know for myself,
333
00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:42,480
sometimes I can come across quite direct
and quite
334
00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:45,520
maybe sometimes brutal.
335
00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:47,800
And if somebody's communicated
336
00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:51,200
with me direct,
so brutal like that could like break me.
337
00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:54,920
I could be, you know, destroyed by that,
which is really ironic.
338
00:18:54,920 --> 00:19:01,480
So how do we have a two way communication
sort of understanding in place?
339
00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:05,960
So supporting supporting organizations
to understand that,
340
00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:09,840
and I think for things like that is just
let's have the conversation.
341
00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:12,920
Let's not be frightened to say, you know,
342
00:19:13,520 --> 00:19:16,040
I part of our may be unfolding.
343
00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:16,600
What is it?
344
00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:21,440
You know, if you if you, you know,
ADHD or autistic or some,
345
00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:26,520
some part of that,
you know, neuro diverse community, then.
346
00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:29,880
Well,
347
00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:32,160
these are the ways that we understand
348
00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:35,080
communication will help
what would help for you kind of thing.
349
00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:38,280
And if people are comfortable
with coming out and talking about it,
350
00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:41,720
and I totally understand that as well,
because it can be very scary.
351
00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:45,720
Then just naturally,
let's just talk to people in a way
352
00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:46,680
that they want to give you. Okay?
353
00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:48,840
Let's just ask the question,
how do you like to be managed?
354
00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:51,280
How do you want to be communicated to you
rather than the sign?
355
00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:52,920
This is how we like to do it.
356
00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:56,440
And, you know, every year
we have an annual review.
357
00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:58,440
Well,
that might be terrifying for somebody
358
00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:01,760
with with ADHD because you don't know
what's going to happen because has.
359
00:20:02,120 --> 00:20:03,000
Yeah.
360
00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:05,920
Have we stacked up a whole load of things
just for that year's review.
361
00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:07,200
Like there's so many different,
362
00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:09,680
you know,
there's so many different things.
363
00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:12,080
It can be it can be a bit scary.
364
00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:15,880
So I think one thing is around
communication,
365
00:20:18,120 --> 00:20:21,920
the second thing is,
and I still haven't quite worked out
366
00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:24,960
or quite managed
to convince people of this,
367
00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:27,960
but, especially for the ADHD brain,
368
00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:31,880
making things fun to get stuff done is a
369
00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:35,920
real, is is just a massive tick in a box.
370
00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:36,560
Right?
371
00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:40,160
So I my motto especially is a scrum.
372
00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:44,680
Most agile coaching coach is having fun
while getting stuff done.
373
00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:46,080
That's that's what I say.
374
00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:51,000
And I've had the like of like two decades
and I've never understood what,
375
00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:53,680
because I feel boring stuff
I'm just not interested in. Literally.
376
00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:56,400
You cannot get like to do a bill.
377
00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:58,440
I know everybody
find stuff like that boring.
378
00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:00,600
But it's, it's it's like a
379
00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:03,520
I don't know how to describe it.
380
00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:06,360
I am almost paralyzed by boring things.
381
00:21:06,360 --> 00:21:08,400
I just have a few words for them.
382
00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:10,800
And that's
really obviously in a workplace,
383
00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:12,760
you can't just say,
I'm never going to do a boring thing.
384
00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:15,760
That's just not feasible
or no X by the company.
385
00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:16,560
Right?
386
00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:19,520
But, you know, always talking to a coach,
387
00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:22,560
a coach, you, you dinosaur,
just write all these numbers.
388
00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:23,240
Really boring.
389
00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:27,520
I said, oh, was there anybody in your team
that actually really loves numbers?
390
00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:31,760
Because there might be an ADHD
or actually anybody in that team is
391
00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:33,040
just gets really like,
392
00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:36,160
you know, get a buzz out of looking at
numbers and planning stuff like that.
393
00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:38,360
Well,
what did you just say? Like, you know,
394
00:21:38,360 --> 00:21:41,160
you either want to work on it together
or do you want to do this?
395
00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:42,960
Because I know that you find this fun.
396
00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:47,600
So why do we
why are we still we have kids, right?
397
00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:49,480
Yep. Just drop descriptions. We have,
398
00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:51,040
you know, the
399
00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:54,360
goal in which
we want to achieve in our day to day.
400
00:21:54,360 --> 00:21:56,920
But it doesn't mean that we can't say,
well,
401
00:21:56,920 --> 00:21:59,120
these are really fun things in my job,
I love it.
402
00:21:59,120 --> 00:22:02,120
I understand
I will have sprinkling of boring stuff
403
00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:05,400
and but the stuff
that is actually paralyzing to me,
404
00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:08,760
why am I taking that away from somebody
you actually might really enjoy it.
405
00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:10,480
Does that make sense? Yeah.
406
00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:12,680
Yeah, yeah, that makes sense.
407
00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:15,000
It's just that more like
completely flexible
408
00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:18,000
way of working
where you look at the team in front of you
409
00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:21,520
and you delegate accordingly
instead of just by job description.
410
00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:22,600
She say.
411
00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:24,160
Yeah, I think that would be better or not.
412
00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:26,560
This comes back to like that sort of agile
way of working
413
00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:28,280
of cross-functional teams. Right.
414
00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:31,400
But again, you've got your,
you know, T-shaped person.
415
00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:33,000
So you've got a core skill,
416
00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:35,440
but is there an opportunity
to actually chart a website.
417
00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:36,000
Exactly.
418
00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:39,960
Let's make things fun so that actually,
if it will, energized work.
419
00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:44,080
And also surely there's just much of a
you don't want to get out of bed,
420
00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:45,080
be like, oh, go on,
421
00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:48,960
I've got to look at another spreadsheet
today or I will go to another 100 meetings
422
00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:50,680
like you get up at night.
423
00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:52,200
Yeah, yeah, I've got to do this.
424
00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:56,280
But I've got all of these, you know, 90%,
70% of my day is actually going
425
00:22:56,280 --> 00:23:00,240
to be really interesting and something
that, you know, like to fire away.
426
00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:02,360
Yeah. Absolutely brilliant.
427
00:23:02,360 --> 00:23:04,080
And then finally, where do you see
428
00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:07,760
ADHD awareness and support
heading in the future?
429
00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:11,160
So I really hope that
430
00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:14,160
there is a role for sort of neuro
431
00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:18,480
diversity coaching
or ADHD coaching in the workplace.
432
00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:22,920
I hope that people actually
433
00:23:24,120 --> 00:23:25,120
feel they can
434
00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:28,200
talk about their their differences
435
00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:33,040
and can actually be proud of saying
that my brain is different.
436
00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:35,080
And the reason it's, you know,
the reason is different
437
00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:38,160
because maybe it falls into this,
let's label it whatever it needs to be.
438
00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:42,160
But actually the benefits of that
are this, that and the other.
439
00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:46,080
So it would be so cool to see on even job
descriptions, like,
440
00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:49,920
we're looking for a divergent thinker,
for someone who's good at either focusing,
441
00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:52,920
you know,
someone who's able to recognize patterns,
442
00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:57,080
all of these things are actually stuff
that we're really good at,
443
00:23:57,080 --> 00:24:02,040
and being able to have that us helpful,
444
00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:06,480
sort of indications to a diverse,
445
00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:09,480
you know, workplace,
I think would be would be really great.
446
00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:12,280
I think, again, sort of coming
447
00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:16,040
back to your previous question around a,
448
00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:19,920
what can
organizations do for people with ADHD?
449
00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:22,040
It's like I say, it's not just about
450
00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:26,080
I actually ADHD and autism around
colors and noise and many other things.
451
00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:29,720
I think it's also also about that
diversity of ideas.
452
00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:34,280
So, you know, I can sometimes
come with an idea and say it to people
453
00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:38,520
and everybody sort of goes by it because
it's probably a little bit wayward.
454
00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:41,880
And I've got their own way
that maybe I haven't explained very well,
455
00:24:42,120 --> 00:24:44,040
but rather than saying, oh, that's a bit
456
00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:47,400
wayward, let's keep going along this one,
two, three, four linear way
457
00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:51,920
actually writing that and saying, okay,
so we don't have to do my idea, right.
458
00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:54,200
But let's, let's explore
a little bit more.
459
00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:58,560
So let's explore more crazy
fun ideas and see where we
460
00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:01,840
we come out with that rather than,
than just taking the normal path.
461
00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:06,280
So I suppose I'm sure I'm saying,
shall we be more experimental?
462
00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:10,680
And having that in our organizations
463
00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:14,600
because that is supporting the future of,
you know,
464
00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:20,880
ADHD and true diversity and, and true
sort of inclusion across the board.
465
00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:22,480
It's not just,
466
00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:26,200
you know, we need to talk about this more
or we need to be aware that we have ADHD
467
00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:30,120
colleagues know it's actually practically
doing something different about it.
468
00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:32,640
Yeah, fantastic.
469
00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:35,280
If people want to reach out to you
if they've got questions
470
00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:36,880
or they want to learn more
about what you do, can.
471
00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:38,560
They get in touch?
472
00:25:38,560 --> 00:25:39,840
Yes, absolutely.
473
00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:43,840
So, you can either get in touch
with, through LinkedIn.
474
00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:45,000
So I'll send you my LinkedIn.
475
00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:47,000
And please do connect. Connect.
476
00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:49,600
Follow me on there. Drop me a DM.
477
00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:51,840
Otherwise my website is
478
00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:55,960
helen-lca.com.
479
00:25:56,040 --> 00:25:58,000
And you can also connect with me there.
480
00:25:58,000 --> 00:25:59,920
And I would love to speak to more people.
481
00:25:59,920 --> 00:26:04,080
There's a lot of us out there regardless
of any of diagnose not diagnose.
482
00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:07,080
But there's certainly a lot things
that we can make nice to.
483
00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:09,920
Yeah.
To support your day to day to thrive.
484
00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:12,480
Fantastic. Well,
thank you so much for your time today.
485
00:26:12,480 --> 00:26:13,080
Thank you.
486
00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:14,200
Emily, it's been such a pleasure
487
00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:16,240
to speak to the again
and thank you for having me on.
488
00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:18,320
Thanks again to Helen for their time.
489
00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:21,120
For more information
on the role of an ADHD coach.
490
00:26:21,120 --> 00:26:21,960
You can get in touch.
491
00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:24,320
With Helen
through the links in the description.
492
00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:28,000
For more information on neurodiversity
in the workplace, head to prospects
493
00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:29,520
Dot acute.
494
00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:33,960
If you enjoyed the episode, do feel free
to leave us a review on Apple or Spotify.
495
00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:38,840
Thank you, as always, for listening and
good luck on your journey to future you.