Neurodiverse Leadership & ADHD - Where being different and brilliant is challenging in a neurotypical world.

September is a wonderful month to re-set, reboot and revive. I've reviewed the services I was offering at Purpose Driven Impact and got myself through a challenging year navigating through loss (death of several family members & friends; money; home:; confidence), the wobble of uncertainty and reliance on securing paid contracts as consultant, versus taking a more permanent position with security of a monthly salary, and finally accepting that as a Neurodiverse Leader (with all the traits of ADHD), I sit outside the 'normal' or 'neurotypical' perceptions of what a leader should look like.

I've learned so much about myself as a neurodiverse leader and despite being told a few years ago that I likely had ADHD, I had originally laughed at the notion, until I learned more about ADHD in adults and females in particular, and that the 'H' for Hyperactivity was actually internalised in me. My brain is on fire and working at a rate of knots constantly, and I've exhausted so much energy by trying to mask my symptoms and overcompensate to try and appear more 'normal'.

Going through lots of interviews in recent months, it has become clear that my neurodiverse brain doesn't perform well in interview situations, as I find it challenging to explain my 'how' to neurotypical brains. I had the startling revelation that for most of my major CEO/Leadership roles in the last 20 years where I've had monumental impact, I have not been the first choice! The majority of people don't feel comfortable with things (or people) they don't understand, and rather like Nanny McFee, I've been what they needed rather than what they thought they wanted, and so they've elected to make first offers to other candidates and once I've fallen into the roles by accident, I've taken all of the organisations to the next level and beyond.

I've been more than capable of doing all the jobs I have interviewed for, but my inability to explain my 'how' or to present in a slick, rehearsed manner, has meant that others have been preferred candidates. I will write another article on my thoughts and views on interviews and the education system another day, and how these are not currently set up to help those with neurodiverse brains (approx 20% of the global population). My expertise and experience in lots of different settings, backed up with a voracious capacity to read and test leadership theories, NLP, people development & change management processes, means that I just KNOW what to do instinctively and intuitively and I can manage multiple change programmes and projects at multiple levels concurrently. I struggle to explain how I actually do this and I suppose it can appear chaotic to neurotypical people, but to me, I know exactly what needs to be done and by when and what success looks like. I believe in assessing the situation and meeting people where they are, rather than trying to shoehorn in an 'off the shelf' theory and make it fit.

I've recently come across the brilliant Alex Partridge who summed up ADHD positives brilliantly in a recent post, and it describes me perfectly (although doesn't mention that I can be incredibly funny too!) :

" A Doctor will say ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by traits of disorganisation, impulsivity and forgetfulness, but it is so much more than that. ADHD is also characterised by traits of creativity, resilience, excellent problem solving skills, hyperfocus, great in a crisis, being able to derive patterns where others see chaos, conversational skills, spontaneity, fearlessness, loyalty, entrepreneurial, empathetic, intuitive, being able to see the big picture and spot connections that others miss, thinking outside the box, ability to find unique solutions to difficult problems, able to talk about different topics at one time, being a great judge of character, high energy, willingness to take risks, being able to give monumental amounts of love, dedication, and attention to something that really grabs your interest. There are loads of positives and that really is just the tip of the iceberg."

I have now come out the other side and know I can help others to understand how to embrace those brilliant neurodiverse brains, and if you are an authentic, purpose driven leader who is committed to doing good in the world, then I can help you by speaking in your language and asking the questions which will help you see how brilliant you are and what impact you and your business can make with a few simple tweaks.

I've refocussed my business and Purpose Driven Impact Consulting Ltd has been re-born and launched and will offer services in three key areas:

• Consultancy / Advisory (Social Impact, Organisational Transformation, Short Term Projects, Inclusion & Diversity)
• Executive Coaching - Specialising in Neurodiverse Leadership
• Interim C-Suite Support (Charity / Sport / Not for Profit)

You can find more information here:

What We Do (purposedrivenimpact.co.uk)

I am very well connected in the sport and charity sectors and can help to navigate through and signpost to people and organisations who can help. I also have a wealth of contacts with fellow brilliant consultants/specialists who can support if required.

Here's to leaning into our brilliant, quirky, wonderful selves and helping creating a more inclusive world with more diverse voices around the tables.

Message me if you are looking for simple solutions to solve complex problems. My superpower is helping to navigate and find the sustainable solutions which deliver impact.

#Neurodiversity #Leadership #ADHD #Inclusion #Diversity #Consultancy #Advisor #Speaker #FemaleLeader #CEO #C-suite #SocialImpact #Sport #DisabilitySport #ExecutiveCoaching #Interim #OrganisationalTransformation #ProjectManagement #Charity

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