Brain Functionality

In a recent workshop, one of the players shared that she struggles with ADHD. Let’s call this young woman “Jill.”

We had just finished an activity and were in the debrief section. It’s the time that opens up discussion to recognize how we felt during the activity, how often we feel something similar, what strategies are used to cope or overcome that, what we learned. Often, in my coaching, this is where the true learning happens as we are made aware of how we’re responding in any moment and how we can apply that learning to be 1% better tomorrow.

Back to Jill. She mentioned that she struggles with ADHD and her brain is still working on “things you could find in an aquarium.” That activity, “Categories,” was two activities ago! We had finished and discussed it already and had moved on.

Jill said her brain was fixed on that trying to think how she would have responded, even though everything else around her told her that we had moved on.

I listened to her, fascinated. It’s an insight to ADHD that is new to me. We continued to talk with the group for a few moments. I could see that her bravery encouraged others to share and participate in the discussion as well.

I was reminded of something then – our brains don’t all function the same way. As leaders, it’s important to remember that so we can provide space and support for those that may still be thinking about the aquarium, even if we’ve moved on from that topic.