ADHD & Business Ownership – Can it work?

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Business owners

Business owners are often attributed to people with decent energy levels, who are willing to take risks, and who show adaptability in times of calamity. 

 What is ADHD?

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition defined by extreme energy in the form of frequent and severe hyperactivity and attention deficits, as per the American Psychiatric Association (2013). It is primarily caused by mental “disinhibition” or a lack of constraint. ADHD affects around 8.4percent of infants and 2.5 percent of adults.   ADHD is frequently detected in school children. It is more common in males than females, especially in school-going children.

Cause of ADHD

The underlying pathophysiology of ADHD is still unknown, but researchers have confirmed that the disorder is neurobiological and determined by genetic factors, with genetic makeup accounting for 60–75 percent of total cases. Even though ADHD seems to be quite persistent, the majority of teenagers continue to have symptoms into adolescence.

ADHD and work environment:

  ADHD is linked to “deficiencies” including responding without thinking, limited attention, and a lack of patience when faced with repetitive activities, people who exhibit such behaviour may struggle to meet the demands of a typical work setting. They choose activities that don’t need constant monitoring and allow them to work alone. Because of their impulsive nature, they are more likely to act without considering the outcomes, endangering their managers or colleagues. Their dissociative symptoms, which stem from a lack of inhibitory control, may make it difficult for them to engage in tasks that need continuous attention.

Individuals who are engaged in such behavior are more likely to have poor work performance and adverse effects in a workplace setting to become jobless. Even though they have greater intellectual levels, they are rarely seen in higher-ranking job positions. 

ADHD and business ownership:

 Economists have applauded such “disorganised people” for their potential to visualize and build innovative situations, breaking through odd business conventions and resistance. Individuals with ADHD may excel other individuals in various workplace settings, such as positions that require quick and creative decision-making, if they can build “adaptability” techniques to overcome their “deficiencies.” People with greater degrees of ADHD behavior but who have not been diagnosed positively for ADHD on a clinical scale are a better match for business ownerships, which boosts their entrepreneurial goals. When it comes to offering superior services, people with ADHD are typically attentive. Individuals with ADHD may be well-suited to running a small business. Their impulsive thinking and ability to take challenges make them remarkable businessmen.

People with ADHD are more interested in jobs that allow them to work autonomously.   A high level of independence and autonomy is widely regarded as a universal motivator for new ventures and entrepreneurial goals. Business ownership not only blends well with ADHD behavior due to the lack of a structured and organized work environment, but it also necessitates qualities and talents that are typically linked with people who display ADHD behavior. The weaker inhibitory control attention – Deficit/hyperactivity has a variety of behavioral effects, including trouble focusing attention on a specific activity,  and mind wandering. Though this may impede productivity in the workplace, especially in terms of “in-role efficiency,” a “unrestrained imagination” has been proven to be beneficial to innovative thinking.

Adults with ADHD are also better at occupations that demand to reason, accomplish tasks with more creativity, and have a higher motivation to generate new ideas. Adults with ADHD are quickly distracted when performing “boring, typical” activities, according to the APA, and tend to be more productive when working in new environments or engaging in tasks that they like. Adults with ADHD behavior are more inclined to seek occupational skills that enable them to employ their creativity because they appear to be more innovative and prefer non-repetitive tasks. At the same time, motivation for having entrepreneurial goals and pursuing an entrepreneurial venture is to create something new which distinguish business owners from non-business owners

There is evidence of successful entrepreneurs, for example, David, Neeleman (JetBlue Airlines’ founder), and Paul (Kinko’s founder) have Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder.

How can we help people with ADHD in their business careers?

We can help those individuals by raising awareness of what motivates and drives these individuals in their careers, as well as assisting them in choosing a career that is in line with their goals and capabilities.

References:

  • Barkley, R. A., & Murphy, K. (2010). Impairment in occupa-tional functioning and adult AD/HD: The predictive utilityof executive function (EF) ratings versus EF tests.Archivesof  Clinical  Neuropsychology,  25,  157–173.  
  • https://www.additudemag.com/faq-about-adhd-medications/
  • de Graaf, R., Kessler, R. C., Fayyad, J., ten Have, M., Alonso, J.,Angermeyer, M., et al. (2008). The prevalence and effectsof adult  attention-deficit/hyperactivity  disorder  (AD/HD)on  the  performance  of  workers:  results  from  the  WHOWorld Mental Health Survey Initiative.Occupational andEnvironmental  Medicine,  65(12),  835–842.  
  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013).Diagnostic and sta-tistical  manual  of  mental  disorders:  DSM  V(5th  ed.).Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.

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