The Missing Leadership Manual for ADHD Entrepreneurs (No One Else Will Tell You This)

For years, I've searched for resources on leadership with ADHD, only to find an empty shelf.

Ever felt like leadership books weren't written for your brain? That the systems and strategies recommended just don't mesh with how you think and work?

You're not alone.

For years, I've searched for resources on leadership with ADHD, only to find an empty shelf. Nearly all ADHD research in this area focuses on how to manage people with ADHD - but what if you are the leader who has ADHD?

This gap in understanding has left many of us feeling like we're somehow failing at leadership when in reality, we're just approaching it differently.

Today, I want to share something that took me years to understand: If you have ADHD, you likely excel at certain leadership skills while struggling with others – and that's completely normal.

The Two Types of Leaders

If there's one thing I want you to take away from today, it's this:

You can't naturally be the world's most organized leader and be amazing at pivoting and change management at the same time.

There's a term in leadership circles right now called "transformational leadership" or "change management." This involves guiding organizations through periods of significant change, requiring problem-solving, original thinking, and new project ventures.

If you have ADHD, transformational leadership is likely your jam. You probably thrive when:

• Solving novel problems

• Creating innovative approaches

• Navigating changing landscapes

• Starting new initiatives

I worked with someone who ran a division of a hospital. Her job was to figure out how to balance the budget, make everything stretch, and adapt to constantly changing government regulations. She was an exceptional transformational leader because she could pivot quickly and think creatively as circumstances evolved.

But there's another type of leader: the organizational leader (sometimes called an executive leader). These leaders excel at:

• Planning ahead methodically

• Navigating distractions with ease

• Keeping everyone focused on mission

• Managing bureaucracy efficiently

Sound like you?

Probably not…

And guess what! And that's completely okay.

Accepting Your Leadership Style

Remember when you were young and created impossible wish lists for your future partner? Someone who would be spontaneous AND reliable, passionate AND steady, a dreamer AND practical?

As adults, we laugh at these impossible combinations of traits. We understand that people have natural strengths and weaknesses.

The same applies to leadership. You have strengths and weaknesses too, and your strengths are desperately needed in today's rapidly changing world.

If you weren't leading your area, that entire transformational side of the equation would be missing. Yes, things might get done more efficiently under a different type of leader, but the business might grind to a halt without your innovative problem-solving and adaptability.

The ADHD Leadership Challenges

Understanding your leadership type is confidence-building, but let's be honest about the struggles too. The biggest challenges for ADHD leaders typically fall into three categories:

1. Time Blindness

When you have ADHD, you likely struggle with:

• Estimating how long projects will take

• Creating realistic timelines

• Meeting deadlines consistently

• Staying on schedule in meetings

This becomes particularly challenging when you need to tell higher-ups when a project will be completed or schedule milestones for your team.

The natural response to this uncertainty is often to make something up: "It'll be done by Wednesday!" But this approach erodes trust when those deadlines aren't met.

Instead, try setting up a leadership scorecard. This simplified dashboard helps you stay connected to what matters most without overwhelming your working memory.

Your scorecard should include:

• Your 25-year vision (the big picture that transcends fear)

• Your one-year goal (what will get you closer to that vision this year)

• Your monthly goal (what will get you closer to your yearly goal this month)

• Key metrics with responsible team members assigned

This approach helps you manage time blindness by providing a clear, simple overview of what matters. You can see all the moving parts in one place without getting lost in the details.

PS: If you want a copy of the scorecard I use, you can head over to Instagram, message me SCORECARD, and I’ll send it over.

2. Working Memory Struggles

ADHD leaders often struggle to:

• Keep track of the small pieces of projects

• Manage day-to-day tasks effectively

• Remember important details from conversations

• Follow through on commitments

My best advice? Find the most neurotypical member of your team and make the detail management their responsibility. Hand things off, both big and small jobs.

Once you've delegated something, practice incompetence, and keep your hands in your pockets! Don't swoop in to "fix" things or take back tasks. Your job is to be consistent in not doing what you've delegated.

This is often the hardest part for ADHD leaders who can struggle with people pleasing, but it's essential for your success and your team's growth.

3. The Dopamine Challenge

We've all been there - super excited at the beginning of a project. You're hyper-focused, working all weekend, creating ambitious plans and detailed timelines. "Time blindness? What time blindness? I've planned the whole year!"

But then weeks two, three, and four roll around. Things get harder. More boring. More routine. The dopamine drops off, and suddenly, that exciting project feels like a chore.

Remember, this is your process - it's okay to get excited, but don't expect your dopamine to last until the end of the task. Don't rely on project dopamine; it's a side benefit, not a reliable fuel source.

Instead, create rewards for starting and continuing the work. The excitement about the project itself should be a bonus, not your primary motivation.

Embracing Your Leadership Identity

If you're likely a transformational leader with time blindness, working memory challenges, and dopamine fluctuations, here's what to remember:

1. For time blindness: Create a simple dashboard that connects everything to your bigger vision.
   

2. For working memory: Delegate details to team members and keep your hands in your pockets.
   

3. For dopamine challenges: Don't expect sustained excitement - create external rewards instead.
   

Understanding these aspects of yourself gives you information you can use to set yourself up for success. The billion-dollar leaders of the world have the same issues; they've just built systems and teams to compensate.

When you focus on these fundamentals and truly understand who you are as a leader, your confidence increases. You stay grounded in your strengths while managing your challenges.

Remember, your original thinking, problem-solving abilities, and capacity for navigating change are precisely what many organizations desperately need right now. The world doesn't need more leaders who all think the same way - it needs your unconventional perspective.

I'd love to hear your experiences as an ADHD leader. What challenges have you faced? What strategies have worked for you? Hit reply and let me know.

Wishing you focused, balanced days,

Skye

P.S. Whenever you’re ready to grow your business without ADHD overwhelm, here’s how I can help:

1. Get ADHD-friendly business strategies in your inbox
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3. Join my Focused Balanced Growth Program
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References
1. Sahakoski, A. (2024). Performance management: a case study, helping supervisors to improve their performance management.
2. Tenschert, J., Furtner, M., & Peters, M. (2024). The effects of self-leadership and mindfulness training on leadership development: a systematic review. Management Review Quarterly, 1-52.
3. Kaaria, A. G., & Karemu, G. K. (2024). Cultivating Neurodiverse connections through competent leadership: integrative literature review. International Journal of Advanced Research, 7(1), 93-121.