A Team Roundtable on ADHD Collaboration
Imagine a lively conference room, where a small team gathers to discuss how to improve teamwork and communication, particularly when ADHD is in the mix. Below is a snippet of their conversation, highlighting real tips you can apply in your own collaborative setting.
1. Setting the Scene
Participants
Avery (Project Manager, ADHD)
Jordan (Software Developer, ADHD)
Blair (Team Lead, non-ADHD)
Morgan (Designer, ADHD)
They’ve noticed issues like missed details, unclear instructions, and occasional meltdown moments. Today, they’re swapping ideas on how to communicate effectively while respecting ADHD needs.
2. Kickoff: Identifying Challenges
Blair (Team Lead):
“Let’s start with the main pain points. Avery, you’ve mentioned deadlines sometimes slip because tasks aren’t always clear. Morgan, you said you get overwhelmed by quick Slack messages. Jordan, you find it tough to track changes in big group chats. Let’s talk solutions.”
Why This Matters
ADHD brains can excel at creativity and problem-solving, but ambiguity and unstructured communication can lead to missed details and stress. Clearer frameworks help everyone, not just those with ADHD.
For more context on ADHD time struggles, see Time Blindness Explained: Why ‘Next Week’ Means Nothing to ADHD Minds.
3. Avery’s Suggestion: Structured Agendas
Avery (ADHD Project Manager):
“Whenever we have a meeting, let’s distribute an agenda in advance. That helps me—and others with ADHD—know the talking points so I can note key questions before we dive into a new tangent.”
Blair (Team Lead):
“I love that. And after the meeting, we can do a quick bullet-point summary of decisions and next steps. We’ll store them in a central location so no one forgets.”
The Tip
Pre-Meeting Agenda: ADHD thrives on clarity.
Post-Meeting Summary: Quick bullet points keep the action steps top of mind.
See The ADHD Morning Routine: Creating Structure Before Distractions Begin for ways to extend that structure into daily habits.
4. Jordan’s Trick: Single-Tasking Chats
Jordan (Developer, ADHD):
“When Slack or group chat lights up with multiple topics, I lose track. I started doing ‘single-topic threads.’ Instead of piling random comments in one channel, I spin up a short thread per issue.”
Morgan (Designer, ADHD):
“Agreed. My brain jumps around if a chat is too cluttered. Having separate threads for separate issues helps me focus.”
The Tip
Separate Threads: One conversation per topic. No more multi-topic tangles.
Clear Subject Lines: Whether it’s Slack or email, label it. E.g., “UI Update - Urgent.”
Explore single-tasking further in Single-Tasking vs. Multitasking: Why ADHD Brains Thrive One Step at a Time.
5. Morgan’s Request: Visual Task Boards
Morgan (Designer, ADHD):
“Tasks float around in my head. A visual board helps. I like Trello or Kanban boards—plus color codes. My ADHD brain latches onto color as a quick reference for urgency.”
Blair (Team Lead):
“I’ll set up a Kanban board for each project milestone. You can see tasks in ‘To Do’, ‘Doing’, or ‘Done’. Each column, a color tag if it’s critical or not. Let’s also consider Forget for timeboxing tasks, if that helps keep us on schedule.”
The Tip
Visual Task Boards: Reduces confusion and time blindness.
Color-Coding: ADHD minds often respond well to visual cues.
6. Avery’s Initiative: Daily Micro Check-Ins
Avery (Project Manager):
“At 9:30 a.m., I’ll do a 5-minute huddle. Just 1) share top priorities, 2) mention roadblocks, 3) confirm any urgent meetings. Then we break. No long meeting—just micro updates.”
Jordan:
“That’s perfect for me. If something big arises, we address it in a separate session. Otherwise, we keep it short and sweet.”
The Tip
Brief Daily Sync: Helps ADHD folks start the day clear, handle urgent tasks, or mention struggles quickly.
Avoid Hour-Long Overwhelm: Micro check-ins reduce mental fatigue and keep communication crisp.
7. Blair’s Method: “Must-Know” Summaries
Blair (Team Lead):
“When I share updates, I’ll do a quick bullet list: ‘Must-Know’, ‘Nice-to-Know’, and ‘For Reference’. Then folks with ADHD see top priorities first. If they have time or interest, they’ll read the deeper details.”
Morgan:
“That’s brilliant. If I’m short on time or feeling scattered, I’ll at least read the must-know bullets to stay aligned.”
The Tip
Layered Communication: Prioritize info, so ADHD minds aren’t forced to parse huge paragraphs.
Immediate Relevance: If your day is hectic, you only read the critical bits.
8. Jordan’s Lifesaver: The Forget App + Brain Dump
Jordan (Developer):
“When a random idea or concern pops up mid-meeting, I quickly add it to the Brain Dump in Forget. That way, I don’t derail the conversation or forget the thought. Later, I revisit my Brain Dump and turn relevant items into tasks on the team board.”
Blair:
“That’s a great habit. It keeps the flow going but preserves ideas so they don’t vanish.”
The Tip
Brain Dump: Offload random thoughts to avoid tangents.
Organize Later: Move these items into official tasks or discard them if irrelevant.
Learn more about using Brain Dumps effectively in The Art of Brain Dumping: Clearing Mental Clutter for ADHD Productivity.
9. Morgan’s Reminder: Emotional Check-Ins
Morgan (Designer):
“Sometimes ADHD frustration or anxiety can hamper communication. Let’s normalize saying, ‘I’m feeling overwhelmed—can we clarify that point or shift to a different time?’ rather than letting tension build.”
Avery:
“We’ll schedule quick 1:1 emotional check-ins, especially during busy sprints.”
The Tip
Normalize Overwhelm: Encourage teammates to speak up if they’re losing track or feeling anxious.
Clear Boundaries: Reschedule or break tasks into simpler parts instead of pushing through meltdown.
For more on handling emotional waves, see ADHD & Emotional Regulation: Strategies to Avoid Self-Sabotage.
10. Final Notes and Action Items
After an hour of discussion, the team drafts a quick summary:
Pre-Meeting Agenda + Post-Meeting Summary to keep ADHD minds aligned.
Single-Topic Threads in Slack or email for clarity.
Visual Kanban Boards (with color codes) for tasks.
Micro Daily Check-Ins (5 minutes) for top priorities.
Must-Know Summaries of any updates.
Use Forget for real-time Brain Dumps and timeboxing tasks.
Emotional Check-Ins to avoid meltdown.
They agree to pilot these tips for two weeks and reconvene. If all goes well, they’ll refine the system further—ADHD thrives on iteration, after all.
Parting Thought
Collaboration doesn’t have to crumble under the weight of misunderstood messages or lost details—especially when ADHD is in the picture. By adopting structured, yet flexible communication methods, teams can harness ADHD’s creativity and problem-solving flair instead of drowning in chaos. Whether it’s daily micro syncs, bullet lists, or digital tools like Forget, clear communication forms the backbone of a successful, ADHD-friendly team environment.
Meeting adjourned.