Anyone have a boss with ADHD?

[Anonymous]

My boss has ADHD and working for him is exhausting. He goes off on all sorts of tangents, is very excitable, cancels appointments he wanted and doesn’t follow through on things. I spend so much time and energy trying to instill some discipline in the work flow but it feels very unrewarding. Any suggestions beyond look for another job?

[Anonymous]

No. My boss has ADHD but manages it well so it has minimal impact on me. (She told me so that’s how I know her diagnosis.).

[Anonymous]

OP here - mine has shared that he has ADHD but it certainly doesn’t seem managed.

[Anonymous]

Put things in writing. Limit interaction. Play into his strengths.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I worked for a boss with ADHD for 3 years. It was extremely stressful as he would get excited about things, go tangent, and follow up so closely on where things were to a point where I felt I was under the lens every minute. I was a highly efficient employee and delivered all the deliverables very quickly and ahead of time. That made him ask for more and more. He told me a few times that his wife wants him to start meds for ADHD. That's when I realized that all his jumping around was because of that condition. I had 1:1 conversations with him many times on how his ideas stressed me out and got me exhausted trying to make those work and deliver. He also apologized a couple times but the micromanagement got worse each day. I finally looked for another job and quit. I feel so much as peace now. Seriously that stress that was caused to me wasn't worth it.
I would say try to look for another job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I worked for a boss with ADHD for 3 years. It was extremely stressful as he would get excited about things, go tangent, and follow up so closely on where things were to a point where I felt I was under the lens every minute. I was a highly efficient employee and delivered all the deliverables very quickly and ahead of time. That made him ask for more and more. He told me a few times that his wife wants him to start meds for ADHD. That's when I realized that all his jumping around was because of that condition. I had 1:1 conversations with him many times on how his ideas stressed me out and got me exhausted trying to make those work and deliver. He also apologized a couple times but the micromanagement got worse each day. I finally looked for another job and quit. I feel so much as peace now. Seriously that stress that was caused to me wasn't worth it.
I would say try to look for another job.

I am this same poster. My boss also told me he was a gifted and talented kid growing up and I could believe that. His ideas were really great but his anxiety and other mannerisms that came out of ADHD washed all the good things out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I worked for a boss with ADHD for 3 years. It was extremely stressful as he would get excited about things, go tangent, and follow up so closely on where things were to a point where I felt I was under the lens every minute. I was a highly efficient employee and delivered all the deliverables very quickly and ahead of time. That made him ask for more and more. He told me a few times that his wife wants him to start meds for ADHD. That's when I realized that all his jumping around was because of that condition. I had 1:1 conversations with him many times on how his ideas stressed me out and got me exhausted trying to make those work and deliver. He also apologized a couple times but the micromanagement got worse each day. I finally looked for another job and quit. I feel so much as peace now. Seriously that stress that was caused to me wasn't worth it.
I would say try to look for another job.

I had a similar experience with an ADHD boss. If you are an efficient employee, I would literally finish tasks, and they had forgotten they had assigned them, or decided that they didn't care about it, but of course never let me know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I worked for a boss with ADHD for 3 years. It was extremely stressful as he would get excited about things, go tangent, and follow up so closely on where things were to a point where I felt I was under the lens every minute. I was a highly efficient employee and delivered all the deliverables very quickly and ahead of time. That made him ask for more and more. He told me a few times that his wife wants him to start meds for ADHD. That's when I realized that all his jumping around was because of that condition. I had 1:1 conversations with him many times on how his ideas stressed me out and got me exhausted trying to make those work and deliver. He also apologized a couple times but the micromanagement got worse each day. I finally looked for another job and quit. I feel so much as peace now. Seriously that stress that was caused to me wasn't worth it.
I would say try to look for another job.

Straight up and full stop. This is the most exhausting, depressing, aggravated, and frustrated I have ever been in my life working for this turd of a woman. Not only is my boss ADD and obese, but she also micromanages and bullies me. She constantly interrupts me and all of our coworkers try to avoid her when they see her coming because she never stops talking, and talking over you. Quit. Move on. You don't need to endure this.

[Anonymous]

I'm a consultant and worked for a severely ADHD client for one year - it was a nightmare and this person was a train wreck. They were constantly late, always changing and canceling plans and ideas, couldn't make it to the airport on time for flights and had terrible relationships with the vendors and clients and their own family. It was nuts - I had no idea ADHD could be so toxic - I backed away slowly and quit after a year.

[Anonymous]

I have ADHD but have always managed mine well. I didn't even know I had it until a few years ago when my kids were diagnosed. Then I got a boss that has terribly managed ADHD and even though she is nearly 70 years old she will not retire. I am in the same boat at OP and really miserable. I can't manage her ADHD and mine too. I have tried to get on projects that he is not on but there is only so far I can get away. When everything is in shambles I have to clean it up any how. My biggest problem is that he is so likeable that everyone over looks that he is so ineffective!!!

[Anonymous]

No, OP. If you are successful, you will just become a crutch for your boss's disfunction. You can't make them manage their condition so you have to leave.

[Anonymous]

I don’t get it as I have severe ADHD as a boss. I don’t see issue how it annoys people who work for me. I leave them alone and they do the job good raises and bonuses.

I literally try not to manage at all just hire really good people and leave them alone.

People who are good love it. People who are needy hate me. I actually had an annual 30 minute update with my right hand man once a year for a decade. So 5 hours over ten years. And most of that one hour we chit chatted. The people who worked for him who technically worked for me I meet with 2-3 hours a year.

I literally can’t concentrate. I rarely send emails even and I have zero contacts in my phone as entering info is tiring to me.

[Anonymous]

I have ADHD and hire support specifically for their executive functioning and organizational skills. I try to show appreciation because I genuinely need help and appreciate someone who can keep me on task and help me with my calendar. I don't think it has to be challenging to work for someone with ADHD if they have some self-awareness and are good to you.

[Anonymous]

Loosing my mind. I have been gaslighted ,undermined,demeaned and retaliated against for things I didn't even do . I feel deceived by my company for worrying about this person's disability but not how I maybe affected by this person's disability.i now have a disability...PTSD and anxiety.I am depressed .I love where I work .but I sit in my car till the very last minute now.
Why do I have to suffer mentally ? This has effected my home life and my work life . And the company knew that he has ADHD.
I want to sue.

[Anonymous]

I work in software development so no one in neurotypical. My current boss is very adhd but he is so kind. I have tried to help him get organized by creating smaller tickets (since he is a former software engineer this is what he is use to) so he can check off items when he is done