What Every Small Business Owner Needs to Know About ADHD

More adults are being diagnosed with ADHD than ever before. That means someone in your business may already have ADHD – whether you know it or not.

For small businesses, understanding ADHD isn’t just about being supportive. It’s about unlocking potential you might not realise exists in your team.

What ADHD Actually Looks Like

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) doesn’t always show up the way people expect. There are three main types:

• Inattentive: struggles with focus and organisation, easily distracted, forgets deadlines, often described as “daydreaming.”

• Hyperactive-impulsive: high energy, can’t sit still, interrupts, makes snap decisions.

• Combined: a mix of both. This is the most common form.

It looks different in everyone. Some mask it well; others are more obvious.

Supporting ADHD isn’t about “making allowances.” It’s about creating an environment where different brains can thrive.

The Challenges You Might Notice

Employees with ADHD may:

• Miss deadlines or forget tasks

• Get overwhelmed when given too much at once

• Struggle to prioritise when everything feels urgent

• Lose focus in long meetings

• Procrastinate on repetitive tasks

• Interrupt or talk over others

These aren’t character flaws or lack of effort. They’re symptoms of how the brain processes information.

The Strengths You Might Be Missing

Handled well, ADHD can be an asset. Many entrepreneurs and innovators have it – for good reason.

Employees with ADHD often bring:

• Intense focus on projects they care about

• High energy and enthusiasm for new challenges

• Creative, out-of-the-box problem-solving

• Strong emotional intelligence and empathy

• An ability to spot connections others miss

• Success in fast-paced, varied environments

How to Support ADHD Employees

There’s no one-size-fits-all. Start with a conversation:

• What helps you do your best work?

• What makes it harder to focus?

• How do you prefer to get feedback?

• Which tasks energise you versus drain you?

Small changes can make a big impact:

• Break big projects into smaller steps

• Back up verbal instructions with written notes

• Allow flexible working if possible

• Schedule regular check-ins instead of leaving them isolated

• Provide quiet spaces for focused work

Where to Start

If someone has told you they have ADHD, check in with them. Ask what you can do differently.

Even if no one has disclosed a diagnosis, look at your set-up. Are there simple tweaks that could help everyone focus better?

If you want to put practical support in place, or explore how to make your workplace more ADHD-friendly, get in touch. Sometimes small adjustments unlock huge potential.