Leadership Under Pressure: How ADHD Coaching Enhances Executive Performance
Your brain is infinitely more complex and valuable than any race car. It deserves the same level of specialized attention.
Last week, a CEO client shared something that struck me deeply. "I feel like I'm conducting an orchestra where every musician is playing from a different score," he said, describing his leadership challenges. His words resonated with me, not just as a coach, but as someone who understands the complex symphony of executive leadership in today's fast-paced business world.
Think of your brain as a high-performance sports car. Under optimal conditions, it's capable of extraordinary feats – processing complex information, making strategic decisions, and navigating challenging situations with precision. But what happens when we push that engine to its limits? When deadlines loom, stakeholders demand attention, and the pressure mounts? Our executive function skills – the very abilities that got us to leadership positions – begin to falter.
This is where the traditional executive coaching model falls short. While studies show executive coaching can deliver up to a 788% return on investment, adding the lens of cognitive functioning transforms good leadership into exceptional leadership. As a specialist in working with Turbo Thinkers© – those high achievers with fast-moving, highly creative minds – I understand how to harness the strengths of a turbo-charged brain, whether you have an ADHD diagnosis or not.
Consider the hydraulic engineer I worked with recently. His technical brilliance had propelled him through the ranks, and he was brought in to overhaul an entire department. On paper, it seemed like a straightforward leadership challenge. But beneath the surface lay a more complex reality: while his analytical thinking excelled in solving technical problems, he had never developed the cognitive frameworks needed for people leadership – understanding different communication styles, reading emotional cues, and navigating diverse perspectives. His brain was operating in a constant state of overwhelm, trying to apply technical thinking patterns to human dynamics.
Through our work together, we didn't just develop leadership strategies – we created a deep understanding of his personal operating system. As his thinking partner, I helped him examine not just what he thought, but how and why he thought in certain ways. Like a master mechanic fine-tuning a precision engine, we explored his natural cognitive patterns, uncovered new perspectives, and developed targeted supports to facilitate problem-solving. How might understanding your own thinking patterns transform your ability to lead others?
This is why I advocate for the Turbo Thinking© approach to executive coaching. It's not about fixing what's broken – it's about optimizing what's already there. Dr. Ned Hallowell's concept of VAST (Variable Attention Stimulus Trait) helps us understand that many high-performing executives share traits with ADHD minds: variability in attention, potential for hyperfocus, and remarkable creativity in problem-solving.
The truth is, under pressure, every executive experiences moments where their prefrontal cortex – home to our executive function skills – gets hijacked by the amygdala, our brain's stress center. When this happens, skills like prioritization, organization, and decision-making become compromised. How often do you find your brilliant mind clouded by the fog of overwhelming demands?
Think of it this way: If you owned a Formula 1 race car, would you take it to a general mechanic, or would you seek out someone who specializes in high-performance engines? Your brain is infinitely more complex and valuable than any race car. It deserves the same level of specialized attention.
As a credentialed ADHD coach with extensive executive experience, I've seen how this dual approach transforms leadership capabilities. It's not about a diagnosis – it's about understanding and maximizing your brain's natural tendencies to perform at its best under pressure. What strengths in your unique cognitive style are waiting to be unleashed?
The question isn't whether you need an executive coach or an ADHD coach. The question is: Are you ready to understand and optimize your brain's full capabilities? Are you ready to move beyond traditional leadership development to discover how your unique cognitive style can become your greatest asset?
Whether you're a Turbo Thinker© – with that characteristic fast-moving, creative mind – or simply want to enhance your leadership effectiveness, combining executive and ADHD coaching principles offers a pathway to not just better performance, but a better quality of life. In today's complex business landscape, we all deserve that level of support and understanding. What would it mean for your leadership journey to truly understand and harness the power of your cognitive style?