A guest blog by: Alan Brown of ADHD Crusher
We ADDers spend huge amounts of time trying to do things at which we suck – or just needn’t be doing ourselves. Things that people around us can and will do for us – if we are willing and able to hand them off.
I can speak to this issue in great depth and detail. Because my inability to delegate was a big factor in my very average advancement early in my advertising career. In the world of ad execs, as for m
ost any exec, one’s climb up the ladder (and the pay scale) is in part a function of how well you get people under you, alongside you and even above you, to get things done for you.
And as a classic ADDer (undiagnosed at the time), I was insisting on doing it all myself. NOT because I wanted to, mind you, but because I just didn’t know how to delegate. In my performance reviews my bosses would tell me, “Alan, we can’t promote you yet because the people under you have nothing to do! You’re doing it all!”
But once I learned the secr
ets of delegation, I started not only climbing that ladder, but having tons more time and peace of mind.
Think about it: Whether you’re managing a career or a household, if you could delegate just two things this week, you could free up gads of time. Now multiply that by 52 weeks. Wow. Lemme hear ya say “next level”!
Easier said than done, you say. I know! And there are two reasons we ADDers suck at delegating:
- If you can’t give a subordinate a clear roadmap to completion of a task, then you can’t delegate that task. And communicating a clear roadmap is a skill best suited to linear left-brainers, not us right-brained, synaptic scrambly-brainers!
- Delegating requires asking something of another person, but we ADDers have all kinds of self-worth baggage and don’t feel entitled to ask for help. Instead, we’re always aiming to please – “OK, no problem! I’ll just take care if it myself!”
Fortunately, there’s a simple solution to each of these barriers…
Take the Time to Prepare Good Instructions
Before even trying to delegate a task – particularly a multi-step process – set aside a chunk of time to just THINK about it. Scratch some notes down…
How do you get it done?
What are the tricky parts and the ADHD solutions you’ve learned?
Who are the other parties involved?
How much time does it typically take?
Yada yada…(that’s not a typo – I like saying “yada yada”)
Maybe you even draw a diagram or make a mind map – whatever allows you to see the entire endeavor clearly. Now you’re almost ready to delegate it.
Next, ask the delegatee to chime in on the instructions. Are they super-clear? Do they sound right to you? Can you see a better way at it? Are the goal and timing realistic?
Declare to the World that You Suck (at this one thing)
OK, back to the self-worth/baggage matter. The best way to disarm your own insecurity about asking someone for help is to just be totally up front about your inability to do that particular task well, and compliment the person on her ability to do it better. You can even offer to help her with something you’re good at. Whether or not she takes you up on that additional offer, you’ve just made it a Win-Win.
An action step that I teach in my videos is to grab pen and paper (ya – do this right now!) and jot down a few things you could potentially delegate this week. Set a timer and spend ten minutes on this. I bet you’ll find a few things to NOT be doing yourself any more. [Oh – and a note to you parents: you can delegate stuff to an 8-year-old. That’s when I started doing my own laundry (my mom was a savvy delegator).]
You can’t do it all. You’ve got better things to do!
Who is Alan Brown Anyway?? 
An entrepreneur and ADHD coach, Alan is the creative force behind ADD Crusher™, a video series designed for teens and adults with ADHD. Get Alan’s free eBook, “5 Things You’re Doing Every Day that Make Your ADHD Worse” at www.ADDCrusher.com, and use coupon code DANA15 for 15% off any purchase.
Tired of struggling with ADHD? You’re in the right place. ADHD Success is loaded with free, practical tips to help you get organized, manage your time, and live more easily with Adult ADHD. Like what you read? Sign up for the newsletter now! No Spam. I promise!
0 Comments