What Supports Do Turbo Thinkers© Need at Work?
Rediscover work-life balance and thrive in high-pressure environments.
As a coach for Turbo Thinkers©, I often see clients struggling to ask for what they need at work. Let me share Sarah's story - it might sound familiar.
Sarah lived in a constant state of anxiety. She had received a poor performance review telling her to work "harder and faster," to increase both quantity and quality. As a senior editor managing a team of journalists, she needed to meet deadlines and submit near-perfect drafts for her boss's final edits. This rarely happened, and her anxiety only increased. How was she supposed to wrangle her journalists, meticulously verify their work, and submit quality pieces in such a short time? She worked long hours, missed dinner with her husband and children, and worked weekends. Gone were the afternoons rock climbing at the local crag and pleasure reading. Gone were outings with friends and spontaneous fun with her family.
Through our coaching process, we discovered what Sarah's brain needed to succeed. First, we needed clarity. What did "better" and "faster" actually mean? She had been frozen, guessing what her boss wanted, assuming she needed to read his mind. We Turbo Thinkers© often believe we're mind readers and fortune tellers. We tend to assume we know what others are thinking and that the worst-case scenario will inevitably happen. Once we pause to explore what we actually know, we realize we may not know much. The only way to find out is to ask.
In addition to asking her boss for clarity, Sarah mustered the courage to reach outward. She had been working remotely, in isolation, thinking everyone else was having an easy time while she struggled in shame and silence. It turns out the other editors were also struggling with similar issues! As Turbo Thinkers©, we tend to assume we must solve problems alone and that no one can help. What if we assumed the opposite - that we cannot solve this alone and must ask for help? How would that change our approach? What might become possible?
Through coaching, Sarah learned to let go of the fear that held her captive. Sure, she feared losing her job, but her struggles created an even deeper fear: that she wasn't good enough. Her Turbo Thinker© brain internalized this fear until she became paralyzed, unable to start tasks or stuck in endless final edits.
Together, we developed practical strategies aligned with her brain's needs. She requested regular face-to-face meetings with her boss instead of endless email chains, asked for specific feedback about successful work, and clearly communicated how changes affected deadlines. To support her daily focus, she discovered the power of scheduled breaks, outdoor walks, and focused work blocks guided by alarms. Finding a coworking space helped her maintain boundaries between work and home life.
A turning point came when she attended an industry conference. Reconnecting with colleagues reminded her of her worth and extensive professional network. She realized this one situation didn't define her, allowing her to release the emotional attachment to each task and reach "good enough for now."
The outcome? Sarah discovered what her brain needed to succeed and found the confidence to ask for it. She also learned that her boss's anxiety wasn't hers to manage. While he still doesn't fully grasp the value of neurodiversity in the workplace, Sarah has learned to set firm boundaries. She now leaves work at a reasonable hour to have dinner with her family, keeps her weekends sacred for quality time with her husband and children, and goes rock climbing regularly. She knows she can maintain this balance while still being more than good enough at her job.
What does our unique brain need to succeed? How can we ask for that support? How might reviewing our history of success help us find the courage to take risks? What possibilities open up when we know, deep down, that we'll be okay?
[Note: See attached document "ADHD Symptoms, Impairments and Accommodations in the Work Environment" for specific workplace support strategies]