Who Needs Productivity Anyway? Did You See That Squirrel?
Ken Carlson PCC, CPCC and Petra Russell PCC, CPCC, ELI-MP - Prickly Pear

Who Needs Productivity Anyway? Did You See That Squirrel?

We've rebranded as PricklyPear ! In early 2023, we began sharing weekly content (see below) with a focus on neurodivergent leaders and we truly hope it has made a difference for you. Recently, we introduced you to a new company that I (Ken) and Petra Russell, PCC, CPC, ELI-MP have launched to specifically serve neurodivergent leaders.

As Executive Coaches and Leadership Trainers we've had the opportunity to work with hundreds of neurodivergent leaders and coach them through many leadership and workplace challenges. Each week we will continue to share resources and insights for neurodivergent leaders and the rest of us.

This week we focus on Productivity.

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Who Needs Productivity Anyway? Did you see that squirrel?

Tell me if this reminds you of you. You wake up with a big project on your mind that you are excited to finish. It’s due in two days and you need to focus in order to get it done.

You work all day and into the night. You wake up the next morning and focus again for the day! You complete it. With quality.

The following week you have more things that you should do—you delegate the stuff you can but there are several things you have been putting off. You get to the end of week two and they are all still undone. You are beating yourself up and confused at how you can be so productive at times and feel so lazy and unfocused at other times.

ADHD can be like this for many of the leaders I coach. If it isn’t novel or really interesting, staying focused seems nearly impossible. On the other hand, focus almost seems like a superpower when connected to that exciting project or interesting topic.

I was talking to a leader the other day about this and he was so frustrated with himself. He is a senior leader in his organization and yet he feels like such an imposter at times. A few things came up in the conversation and this is how I spoke to him… and I am speaking to you too:

  1. You are much more productive than you give yourself credit for. It is good to get accurate about what you are actually getting done and remind yourself that you earned the job you have with a lot of hard work.
  2. Those unproductive things maybe need a different approach—maybe don’t use the same hammer you’ve been hitting yourself with.
  3. Realizing that you are stuck and in the middle of a breakdown is the first step to shifting your stuck-ness. Declare a breakdown—out loud if possible.
  4. Commitment is the key to getting unstuck. Remind yourself of what you are committed to. Be bold about that understanding—and then take any action towards that commitment. I reminded him that he was committed to his team—especially the success of his team members. This had him get clear about what he needed (and wanted) to do.

I encourage you to start getting accurate (telling the truth to yourself) about who you are and what you need. If you have ADHD or simply resonate with what I am talking about today, be gentle with yourself. See yourself as a human—trust me—it will help you see others as humans too.

Please join Petra Russell, PCC, CPC, ELI-MP and I, along with Meredith Canaan and Marilyn O'Hearne MA MCC CQ Potential Unlocker Coach, Mentor Coach, Author on Wednesday, February 28th as we talk about this very topic of Initiating and Maintaining Productivity at our LinkedIn event. It will be on Zoom and you are welcome to participate in the conversation.


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Past Articles: Neurodiverse Leadership Resource Library

Want more resources on neurodiversity leadership? We are finding and creating resources for you. Watch this section expand every week.

Feb 12: Emerging from Shame: Illuminating the Path to Neurodivergent Leadership Brilliance

Feb 1: Always Do Your Best Doesn’t Mean Always Do THE Best

Jan 25: There is Nothing Wrong but Something Is Missing

Jan: 19 What’s a Vision Anyway? Why Can’t They Just Do Their Jobs?

Jan 12: A Day in the Life of a Neurodivergent Leader: Navigating Autistic Demand Avoidance at Work

Jan 5: Redefining Autism: The Power of Self-Identification

Dec 21: Why Am I So Anxious

Dec 14: Cultivating Brilliance in Neurodivergent Leaders

Dec 7: Conversations Matter

Dec 1: The Trouble With Geniuses

Nov 17: Science Lesson

Nov 10: Living from Logic in an Emotional World

Nov 3: Communicating with Precision and Simplicity

Oct 27: Creativity and Innovation

Oct 20: How Neurodiversity is Making a Positive and Innovative Impact

Oct 12: It’s Lonely at the Top—Especially for Neurodivergent Leaders

Oct 6: Simply Different?

Sept 29: ADHD: The Kryptonite of It and Its Superpowers

Sept 21: Nerds (and Geeks) Are Leaders Too!

Sept 14 : Blind Spots: You Can't See Yours

Sept 7: People are More Difficult Than Algorithms

Aug 31: ADHD Kids Become ADHD Adults—but Sometimes the Tools Stop Working

Aug 25: Are you Dumb Enough to Manage Up?

Aug 18: Understanding the Avoidant Employee

Aug 10: Your Leadership is Not Served by You Thinking You are Less Than

Aug 4: Leaders Don't Want to Be Victims

July 20: Are You Overcompensating?

July 13: Why We Need the Outdoors

July 6: It's Not a Bug, It's a Feature

June 29: EMOTIONAL BIDS: What Do We Do When Someone Reaches Out to Us Emotionally?

June 15: The Boxes We Put Ourselves In

June 8: Please Just Tell Me the Answer!

May 25: Dyslexia and Leadership

May 18: Autism and Leadership: Advantages and Challenges

May 11: ADHD and Leadership

May 4: Hi Elon, I'd Like to Be Your Executive Coach

Apr 27: Surprise! Your Motivators are NOT Their Motivators

Apr 14: Managing Up Success Story

Apr 6: The Power of Routine

Mar 30: The Nerd Ceiling and Digital Body Language

Mar 22: Neurodiversity Makes For Better Leaders (Sometimes)

Mar 16: He Only Cares About Himself

Mar 9: Neurodiverse Leaders and the Power of One on One Conversation

Mar 2: What if My Neurodiverse Boss Sucks with People?

Feb 23: Why Am I So Anxious?

Feb 16: The Trouble With Neurodiverse Leadership (Forbes Article)

Feb 9: Your Straight Talk is NOT Authentic Leadership

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Staying In Touch

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