Georgie Kempster - Continuous Improvement Analyst at TFSUK

When did you join TFS?

I joined TFS 3 years ago, starting in the finance department and moving to the Continuous Improvement team in April last year.

When were you diagnosed with ADHD?

I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 26, and I also have the bonus of Dyslexia, which is a fun combination! Let’s just say the ADHD perfectionist in me ensures the work I produce is accurate, but the spelling will be atrocious!

What have you learnt about your diagnosis?

I have, through experience, learnt to “hack” my condition to an extent. For example, when an ADHD brain is engaged, we hyper focus and I thrive on a task with an extremely steep learning curve. Unfortunately, the flip side of this is, if a task has become repetitive or mundane, it’s a real battle to get our brains on board.?

Prior to working at TFS, I always worked as a contractor, changing roles every 3-6 months, this gave me the continuous stimulation my brain craved, always learning, and meeting new people. However, when I joined TFS I realised how unsupported I had been, working 10-14 hour days and, on bad days, trying to overcompensate, never asking for help and constantly worrying; leaving me extremely isolated mostly because I had gotten good at masking my condition.

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How has TFS supported you?

TFS have really enabled me to manage my condition. TFS has a supportive culture, and for the first time I have felt comfortable not only to talk openly about my ADHD, but to speak up and say what does and doesn’t work for me and actually ask for help when I need it.

How has your manager supported you?

Working with my line manager, we discussed my condition at length and put in place a Daily Management approach that works with my condition, not against it. Through some trial and error, we have put in steps and tools, so I don’t feel overwhelmed. Those approaches include breaking down large tasks or analysis into smaller bite size pieces that can be delivered in less than one day, and using visual cues for guidance, rather than a long list. Working together we have a much clearer idea of how to get the best out of me.

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What is challenging for you right now?

I still have things I struggle with daily, like managing and prioritising my workloads. I also over promise - the word ‘no’ really doesn’t fall into my vocabulary and I tend to “skip to the good bit” with projects i.e. jump to the solution!

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How do you overcome these challenges?

Thankfully, with the right management approach, these are not much of an issue. For example, we meet daily for 15 minutes to understand what went well the day before, what the priorities are for the day ahead and if there is any support I need for my tasks for that day. Our tasks follow a standardised approach, that I can refer to, and help is there if I need it.

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What advice can you give us at TFS to help support others?

In summary I would say communication really is the key to success and I really don’t think I would be at this point in my career without the support and encouragement of my managers here at TFS.

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