Navigating Career Transitions with an ADHD Mind

0:00 Welcome to Refined Leadership ADHD Lens with Kathy Rashidian. Discover how to refine your leadership through the lens of ADHD. Whether you're advancing toward a promotion or redefining your professional approach, you're in the right place. Join our community for tailored insights that elevate your leadership. Let's dive in. Hello, I am your host, Kathy Rashidian, and you're listening to a special episode all about navigating career transitions with and ADHD brain. Whether you're dreaming about a career pivot or settling into a new role, today's discussion is packed with practical strategies that actually work for our unique minds.

0:41 A quick heads up, our popular Quantum Thinkers group coaching is filling up fast. If you've been thinking about joining us, now's the time. Hop over to ReadySetChoose.com to secure your spot. Today, we will explore how career transitions interact with our ADHD brain and provide strategies to leverage your unique strengths in the workplace. Be sure to download the free resource from our show notes to help guide your career discovery journey. It's packed with frameworks and reflective questions to support you gain clarity and take actionable steps. All right, let's get into it.

1:23 You know that feeling when you're both excited and terrified about a career change? We're wired to crave novelty, new challenges, new environments, new possibilities. But here's the plot twist. We also get overwhelmed by the moving pieces of a transition. How do you manage this balancing act, you ask? Here's what I want you to do right now. Yes, right now. Pause the dishwasher loading or stop scrolling through that job listings for a moment. Grab something to write with because we're going to tackle some game-changing questions. Here are four questions that I want you to consider and to write down your answers.

2:04 What makes you come alive at work? What are those moments when time just flies by? What do you truly want in your next role or career move? And finally, what aspects of your ADHD can you leverage to make this transition smoother? Take a moment to reflect on these and write down your answers, please. Trust me on this part about writing. Our mind loves to bounce thoughts around like a pinball machine. For those of us with ADHD, writing things down can serve as an external memory aid, helping to clarify thoughts and reduce overwhelm. This self-awareness creates a strong foundation for managing transitions.

2:48 Now that we've set the stage with self-awareness, let's explore what happens when we decide to take the leap toward finding the next job. It's natural to focus on what you don't want in a new role or a company. As much as this can be helpful to set the criteria in your search, we also need to pay even closer attention to what you do want in the new role or the organization. Instead of saying, I don't want to work in a toxic environment. Flip it to, I thrive in a workplace that values creativity and flexibility. When one of my clients was struggling with this, we transformed, I am sick of micromanagement into, I excel in environments that trust my creativity and judgment. See how different that feels?

3:42 That shift not only creates a sense of safety for your brain, but also primes you to seek opportunities aligned with your goals. It's like when you buy a red car, suddenly you notice every other red car on the road. What you focus on expands, so focus on what lights you up. Another critical step is to declutter your career luggage. For example, think about a time when you felt undervalued or unsupported in a previous role. How did that experience shape your expectations? Identifying these patterns can help you avoid carrying unnecessary fears or biases into your next chapter.

4:25 And approach decisions with a clear mindset. Take some time to process and declutter those experiences before stepping into your next role. This is about starting fresh and entering your next chapter with clarity and confidence. And remember, this step can be even more effective when a thinking partner like a therapist or a coach or a mentor creates that safe space for you to process past experiences and then you're able to plan your path forward. Before we move on, I want to take a moment to tell you about Quantum Thinker's coaching community. If you're navigating a career transition or looking for a supportive community of like-minded professionals, this group coaching is for you.

5:08 I've designed it to help professionals with ADHD, especially leaders like you, to leverage your strengths and find clarity and take intentional steps into your career move. For more details, head over to show notes or to readysetchoose.com. Now, let's talk about strengths. One of the most powerful exercises I can recommend is identifying your top strengths and considering how they show up in your work. In our group coaching conversation, we often talk about strengths. Have you ever heard of the VIA character strengths or Clifton strengths? These are some tools designed to help you uncover core strengths and understand how they shape up your daily life and work.

5:53 The VIA Character Strengths focuses on positive traits like creativity, perseverance, while Clifton Strengths helps identify talents that can be developed into strengths such as strategic thinking or relationship building. They're a light personality test, but instead of telling you what's wrong, they illuminate what's right. Tools like these can also give you invaluable insights into your core strengths and how you show up in work. For instance, maybe you excel in divergent thinking or hyperfocus. How can those strengths become assets in your career? Here's an example. If you are great at innovative thinking, frame it like this during an interview or a performance review.

6:38 I excel at creating outside-the-box strategies that drive results. Lean into your strengths. They're your superpower. But remember, there is a balance. Too much of a strength can become a weakness. For example, hyperfocus is fantastic until it leads to burnout. So keep your strengths in check by setting boundaries and pacing yourself. This balance allows you to use your strengths and assets rather than letting them become overwhelming. Now that we've covered the importance of clarity and strengths, let's dive into some practical tools. Here are three actionable steps you can take this week if you're navigating a career transition.

7:20 Clarify your priorities. Write down two things you absolutely want in your next role. Be specific and be positive. Evaluate your environment. Take stock of what energizes you and what drains you in your current or past roles. Use this as a guide to make informed decisions. Take one small action. Whether it's updating your resume, networking with a mentor, or exploring new opportunities, taking one tiny step can break the cycle of overthinking and also start building momentum. All right, I cannot wrap this up without giving you one key piece of this puzzle, advocating for yourself.

8:01 Whether or not you disclose your ADHD, it's all about advocating for what you need in a way that feels empowering and practical. Here's my take. Disclosure is a personal choice. So instead, focus on advocating for what you need in ways that don't require a label. For instance, instead of saying I need this accommodation because I have ADHD, try this. I perform best when I can alternate between sitting and standing. Would it be possible to get a desk riser? By framing it as a productivity enhancement, you're advocating for your needs while keeping the conversation focused on a win-win for everybody.

8:43 Another example is if you struggle with meeting overload, you might say, I find that I can contribute more effectively with shorter, more focused meetings. Could we explore setting tighter agenda to optimize our time? Tailoring your request to a specific need helps foster collaboration and understanding. Before we wrap up, let's recap some key takeaways from today's episode. Clarity is power. Define what you want in your next role, focusing on positive aspects. Leveraging your strengths. Identify your top strengths and use them as foundation to navigate transitions and advocate for yourself in the workplace.

9:26 Take the small steps. Break down the transition journey into actionable steps to reduce overwhelm and build momentum. And finally, advocate strategically. Approach self-advocacy with confidence, focusing on solution that's a win-win for everybody rather than label. With these tools in hand, you're equipped to tackle your next career move with purpose and alignment. Remember to grab your free workbook from our show notes. It's like having a career coach in your pocket, helping you identify everything we've just covered today. Transitions are not about where you're going. They're about how you show up along the way.

10:07 And hey, if you're resonating with any of this, I'd love to hear from you over on LinkedIn. Or better yet, come join us in Quantum Thinkers Group, where we tackle these challenges together. Until next time, remember, don't do ADHD alone, align to your strengths, and keep on shining.