Anyone here with ADHD able to be productive, but cause your management concern about your pacing?
Posted by TravellingBeard@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 75 comments
I work in spurts as a database admin, and my colleagues definitely appreciate my skillset, but I also go stretches in the day trying to ramp up my pace, but at the end, do my work in one big spurt over a couple hours that would take others 5 or 6?
rumham_86@reddit
My solution is probably opposite.
I can get stuff done quicker than team members and usually first person to escalate complex tech issues with our dev team, architecture or CI/CD pipeline solutions/fixes, but the secret is fi is at your usual fast pace and sit on it.
It’s not a race it’s a marathon. Being quicker than colleagues doesn’t give you brownie points or bonuses.
My workflow is I get my stuff done and unless it’s critical I wait on it. Maybe run a few tests and review it before calling it done. This way you still productive and in the mean time between complete and turn in you solving other tasks or simply relaxing.
I also always tell managers double the time necessary for delivery scopes and usually deliver it under that time. Under promise and over deliver.
Never had complaints, never get micro managed and I can work at whatever pace I want with flexible hours and no need to get recognition 24/7 as managers aren’t blind they know who’s doing the work.
Zeggitt@reddit
Yeah, I work sort of like that. Caused huge issues when I had to clock hours, because i work quicker but have a hard time ramping up. So I either had to lie on my time sheets, work slower than my natural pace, which made things harder, or clock things as I actually worked them and get swamped with extra tickets.
TravellingBeard@reddit (OP)
I'm learning to timebox, and figuring out simple decision tricks and personal kanban. I'm learning to stretch things out now.
Zeggitt@reddit
Yeah, I probably need to learn some time management strategies, but it always just seems like another thing to add to the mental load.
Dr_Doctor_Doc@reddit
Now, next, later.
1 + 1 + N
doubled112@reddit
Sorry, I only have the capacity for two time categories. Now, and not now.
Dr_Doctor_Doc@reddit
Cheat the process and have your 'not now' category always have the next most important thing.
🏅
Secret_Debt_88@reddit
I've chosen the work slower route
mrjamjams66@reddit
I'm so glad I don't have to log my hours anymore.
At my last job every minute of every day had to be accounted for.
Managers always hated doing my time sheets because it would basically be "I was doing this and got sidetracked by that which then got sidetracked by these 3 things and then I returned to the original task and then got sidetracked again several more times and then the original thing was done by the end of the day"
Current job is just "show up, do and document the thing you built we don't really care how you got it done as long as someone can come behind you and understand it"
T_Thriller_T@reddit
I have learned to not lie in my time sheet, but be ... Realistically honest.
My ramp up time is just part of the time of my job. Now, if I had to clock every ticket that would be harder to do - but doing hours, this thought process has put me at a lot more ease.
Freekjee@reddit
Anyone here with ADHD?
Brother, everyone here has ADHD in one form or another :P
ArchonTheta@reddit
Jack off heavily. Helps focus
RecoverLive149@reddit
Same. I make up for it with my ability to work endlessly on impossible issues and solve them.
bingblangblong@reddit
That sounds like the opposite of ADHD lol
oofta31@reddit
It sounds kind of paradoxical, but hyperfocus in some areas but not others is a common symptom of ADHD
RecoverLive149@reddit
Yea thats me. For some reason the type of work that annoys most people is actually fun to me. I am pretty dysfunctional in many ways but because of this one trait i make good money and people think i have my life together.
dualboot@reddit
Not really. It's a disorder with quite a spectrum of often contextual-dependant expression.
bingblangblong@reddit
With zero biomarkers too. Fun
TravellingBeard@reddit (OP)
The other day a colleauge scheduled to work on changes after hours had an emergency. I had to work on three, all scheduled on the same time, of various levels of pressure from easy to hard. Was kind of proud of myself at how intensely and effectively I multitasked.
Dr_Doctor_Doc@reddit
Sounds like you need to sandbag a little, but also get on top of your executive disfunction.
Being able to pull off miracles under pressure is a great skill; until you cant.
So, overplay how much prep you need, and how mucb discovery, analysis, and synthesis time you need before you problem solve.
But also figure out how to stop leaving it all till the last minutes.
Heroes dont last under sustained pressure; you need to figure out your pacing, or you'll burn out / flame out.
(Speaking as an AuDHD scaled scrum master / strategy lead for an IT team of 40)
vogelke@reddit
If you feed 5000 people with a few loaves and fishes once, you've performed a miracle.
If you do it a second time, you're the caterer.
Dr_Doctor_Doc@reddit
Exactement
RecoverLive149@reddit
To the young and narcissistic comment that got deleted. Thats what everyone thinks until i actively solve the “impossible” things. Haven’t been young in a long time.
InevitableOk5017@reddit
Hello me I found you.
Netfade@reddit
Impossible issues 🤣
You sound young and narcissistic.
Dr_Doctor_Doc@reddit
Harsh armchair judgement on little data.
Skinny_que@reddit
No, I’ve never had someone complain about my productivity.
One of the beauties of working in IT is it’s usually based upon achieving an objective versus a Random metric like time taken, etc. As long as you are actively delivering the final product and or solving the problem most of the time, nobody bothers you.
You probably only receive negative comments if you are taking too long based on a timeline in my experience
TravellingBeard@reddit (OP)
So my manager's manager hired an intern who runs these nifty reports and somehow tracks all the tickets and work we do. I tend to do a lot of after hours work or on call, and during the day, half my work is chasing people for the after hours work that can't be ticketed properly. My manager is pushing us to document as much stuff as we can in tickets we can create for ourselves.
T_Thriller_T@reddit
First: document the rubbing after. Even if it is just a ticket "finishing up after hours work".
This is really important for management to see.
Second: communicate that there is a difference in productivity for you now before they get to you with it based on reports. As long as you hit the average, and especially with the after hours stuff, you have good arguments.
Third: consider if you are willing to look for other opportunities. With ADHD having someone do nitpick metrics per ticket can be a big hassle, because in the end we do achieve the same work as NT peeps, but so so so many of us do so by reaching 100% average through 20% a lot of time and 160% sometimes.
SusAdmin42@reddit
The “finishing up things after hours” ticket is pretty smart.
I do lots of work after hours after coming in late (lol), and I only talk about it, but never document. Some of the after hours work is due to my colleagues needing help after my day is technically over.
T_Thriller_T@reddit
Well I meant it the other way around - running after all the open questions from after hours stuff.
But ABSOLUTELY do thsr.
Ssakaa@reddit
Yes it can. Treat the tickets like a CRM. Document every conversation, every attempt to get a response, etc. Spend half your time documenting how you spend your time. It's what you're being judged on, so use that against them.
Skinny_que@reddit
It might be time for a new job tbh. If they’re shifting the culture and means by which they say you’re doing “well” like this then it might not be a good fit for you anymore and that’s ok
T_Thriller_T@reddit
It should be.
I feel this is becoming less and less common.
I've NEVER had issues achieving my objectives. Not even in time.
But by now I had multiple managers or PMs who were so "super agile!!!" Or simply bad at setting objectives, that they had no idea when they were happy with when and what I actively delivered, but instead compared to others on stupider metrics than time worked.
Because there WAS NO TIMELINE. They couldn't have told me themselves how long it should take.
draconicmonkey@reddit
Experienced managers, especially in IT, understand how to manage different personalities and different individual work styles. But I would recommend learning how to manage up and how to show different managers what they need to see to be put at ease. It’s an important skillset throughout your career.
TravellingBeard@reddit (OP)
Definitely, I've mastered the art of the tactical CC.
thebetterbeanbureau@reddit
Sheep the caster, every time.
Dr_Doctor_Doc@reddit
Bot type response.
thebetterbeanbureau@reddit
Or maybe you don’t understand the reference
Dr_Doctor_Doc@reddit
I cant figure out how polymorph applies here.
thebetterbeanbureau@reddit
Tactical crowd control?
-King-K-Rool-@reddit
A tactical CC isnt quite what he meant. He means figure out some coping skills so that you appear less manic to people who arent familiar with you.
davidbrit2@reddit
That's the secret to success, find something you can do four times faster than everyone else, and make sure everyone knows you can do it twice as fast. ;)
FragrentDust@reddit
I was similar when I wasn't medicated. My ADHD really helped me early on in my career when I was working help desk tickets and smaller sysadmin projects because it allowed me to bounce between and resolve multiple issues and tasks quickly. My managers were usually impressed with my output, even though i was usually procrastinating for a couple hours during the day.
It stopped being helpful once I started a new role working on larger projects with a heavier network/infrastructure design focus. I couldn't maintain interest or get organized in time for meetings with customers, which got me in trouble a few times with my new manager. I was able to get medicated recently and it honestly is a game changer being able to work consistently through the day rather than in bursts.
Beach_Bum_273@reddit
I got medicated.
InkSquidPasta@reddit
100% and I am the boss now
picturemeImperfect@reddit
Order and structure and journaling and exercise help.
css1323@reddit
I’ve been dealing with ADHD in IT for years. I’ve only started to experience burnout without being treated for all this time. It’s an absolute nightmare for me since we gotta track our hours worked and stay focused. Have you been diagnosed or checked with a doctor if you don’t mind me asking?
Krelik@reddit
My director loves making lists and shit.
He'll put together a 4 week window of shit he wants me to do in Asana and will just leave me alone. He didn't at first because we had a new relationship, but as soon as he figured out the tasks always get completed to >90 completion, he stopped caring. So long as I documented what I did.
I've always got the most tasks completed in our teams asana every cycle
-GenlyAI-@reddit
ADHD isn't a superpower. I learned this early on. Getting hyper focused is usually something normal people can do anytime. But they can control it.
Management definitely doesn't like erratic work pacing or mundane work getting done late. Nobody likes work that isn't exciting or stimulating.
Make sure to talk to management about your difficulties, they are usually understanding.
Otherwise you will be posting the typical " I'm on a CAP and I shouldn't be" post.
Typical80sKid@reddit
Are you me?!?
SusAdmin42@reddit
I don’t think I have ADHD, but they can only get 6 good hours of good output from me. This is why I don’t like going to the office and staying there 8 hours. They’re mostly a waste.
chrisgore-spor@reddit
Same here. Although I do see it now as a bit of a super power. The amount of things I have in my head that I’m working on is ridiculous. But in order to actually get through things properly, I do need to set aside focus time for one individual task
Ssakaa@reddit
So, I've been lucky on the teams I've been on. In my first actual role, I picked up the work of the guy above me who was hellbent on getting himself fired for about the last half the year... and couldn't 'cause all of his work got done. Our boss figured out both that and why the wheels stayed on the bus pretty quick... even though he just about never caught me actually "working" (and outside of "imaging week" every semester and an occasional incident response scenario, not sure he ever really did). He'd come back around with a list to find out half of it was already done, the rest scheduled, while I'm sitting there literally with my feet up on my desk. It helped for me that we weren't working out of a ticket system at the time, as much as that would've helped tracking the work. I also learned early on not to spend my time chasing people. I'd line up a pile of emails scheduled to send in the morning, and if someone responded, their work got done. There were enough things on fire, and enough things that needed built/improved/automated that I was never bored. If I had to do something by hand twice, I figured out how not to do it a third. If I had to carry around a scratchable CD or DVD, I had it ripped to a network share (which my boss apparently had very strong opinions about once he finally found out... but he couldn't argue against the efficiency gains). All self paced, properly broad objective oriented. I actually fought to move to salary in that role to get out from under the limitations of a damned timeclock...
hardingd@reddit
It’s about finding strategies that help you be productive. Your ability to concentrate and focus isn’t linear. It ebbs and flows. Take breaks, coffee, tea, bathroom breaks. And sleep. Get good quality sleep.
Recent_Perspective53@reddit
14 years in this, I've never not had less than 5 irons in the fire in terms of things I'm working on.
Og-Morrow@reddit
Management can’t anyway keep with my pacing and then they have no real idea what I do in my job anyway.
They just see me produce and leave me alone.
It very unhealthy having ADHD and HFA in Tech.
Acceptable_Mood_7590@reddit
I am using an A6 notepad and sticky notes.
Whilst working, I use sticky notes to jot down the tasks that needs to be done and are bothering me/piling up.
A6 notepad to write a brief one-2 liner of what I did since the last time entry after which I got distracted. And what needs to be done for the next hour or so. But every distraction is an entry in the journal and that helps refocus
HotfixLover@reddit
Totally relatable. I also work in bursts and sometimes look "slow" during the day, but when I lock in, I knock out hours of work fast. As long as the results are solid, pacing shouldn’t matter that much.
Practical-Alarm1763@reddit
ADHD is a gift and practically a requirement in this field.
TravellingBeard@reddit (OP)
Yeah, need to get on it. My doctor says as soon as I finish the detailed questionnaire sent me, he'll prescribe it. I have a former colleague taking one of them (he's in IT as well), and he stops a couple days a week, on advice of his doctor, but will hopefully be doing it only during the work week.
butterbal1@reddit
I love the irony of that statement as it is one I know extremely well.
"You need to go do this long paperwork that is next to impossible to do without meds if you want to get a prescription for meds to help with stuff like this."
Dr_Doctor_Doc@reddit
Start on low, time released doses.
I am not a doctor, but Ive spent 15 years figuring out what works, and have multiple children on the same path.
Dr_Doctor_Doc@reddit
This is bad advice.
Medication doesn't give you a boost, it takes the normal weights off your ankles and wrists that slow you down. It removes distractions and sidebars that deflect you from whatever you're trying to do, and can give you the edge on the Exec dysfunction that cripples neurodivergent people.
If stimulants are giving you the 'Limitless' effect, you are either on too strong a dose (really, really normal to creep too high) or youre just abusing stimulants as a crutch.
The right balance feels like gliding, not riding a rocketship with 9g acceleration.
thatrandomauschain@reddit
Yep sounds like me. I try my best to do a solid 8 hours but my brain just doesn't work like that. I'd rather do 4 hours burst and do the equivalent of 8 but management is all about 9-5 bs
OneSeaworthiness7768@reddit
I do nothing sometimes for days (not because I don’t want to, it’s difficult to start things, hard to make that make sense to people who don’t have adhd) and then panic-work for a full day at the last minute before I have to present something. But I’m not micromanaged so I don’t think anyone notices that this is how I work (at least, no boss has ever said anything about it.)
T_Thriller_T@reddit
This is, in parts, what I do when I have certain obstacles in a job.
I have the unpleasant experience of technically not being managed at all, and at the same time due to that "micromanaged" in evaluation.
Which means: my manager didn't give me ANY timelines, he didn't have any timelines for my task, he didn't ask me for my timelines or really didn't care to check No one was complaining. I was hitting timelines, when I was given.
But he had to do evaluation, and what did he look at?
I think he had no idea, and honestly neither did I .
I know it devolved into him being prissy because my commit history was less filled - but it was overall just less atomic AND in comparison to many colleagues I was one of the few just working one project.
And yeah, I had a tendancy to not commit or push often enough, not even every end of the day.
Micromanaging at least gives you orders. Microevaluation was hell.
Zatetics@reddit
I adjusted my approach to work to mitigate.
I wake up, make a smoothie, take my ritalin, and immediately start work. Then I finish when my brain stops working around 15:00 hrs. Some days are off days, and some issues disregulate or throw a spanner in the works, but generally I find this approach to work for me.
T_Thriller_T@reddit
Im happy this works for you, but this would never have worked for me.
My medication makes me better at starting work, but with certain problems or in certain team situations, I can do all the right things and I'm surely LESS thrown off, but I'm still very much not able to just do my work - even less so at a steady pace.
T_Thriller_T@reddit
I have learned open communication helps. Not that you have ADHD, just that your output varies throughout the day, and it's important to have fixed deadlines at which you will be done - but likely not before.
Something like that.
And also ask what they need or where their concern is
Will it solve the issue? Not necessarily.
But either you can find middle ground, or, which was the hard lesson for me, you know you and your management are not working out.
If that is the case - find a new place.
Even good managers can handle certain quirks badly, and if they do, YOU will suffer.
For me I got bad enough that I was sitting with my behavioural therapist and we over and over hit "I'm trying, but management is not supportive/counteracting" when professionally developing ideas how to better communicate, collaborate or work
MachRc@reddit
Productive as hell. Always being prepared, people can throw at me their failures last minutue, and still can kill it. Murderer of tickets, easy. When its work-related - laser focused. I just need to quiet the mind more. Trying to chill out more, in my mind im always K.I.T.(keep it together - keep it togetha)
I am very outgoing. Major power of being extroverted in a nerdy introverted world. Less talking about me or the current process, more talk about others.
K.i.t .k.i.t.
I can really bring the room alive, and can really bring it down too. No filter makes for comedy. Just always in my mind, less , outbursts, K.I.T.
The only issue management has had with ne is truly just airing people's stupid bass behaviors and fallacies.
I refuse to lie, and most of the time, all the time , I call people out if needed.
Never pacing issues. Always finish first. They tried to say dont rush, but it doesn't matter. Finish best finish first.
Info tech is still people to people business be upbeat, finish- best -first , laser focused, serious, but being social butterflies, as long as we talk less and k.i.t, everyone will need your help forever whether its lvl1 waste carts, to lvl2 AD offloading, to lvl 3 hanging out inside of demarc with ATT. Keep it together.
davy_crockett_slayer@reddit
I use the Tick Tick app. Works wonders.
PrncessVespa@reddit
I am an IT PM for a large company - every single member of our IT department is some degree or flavor of neurospicy.
Management knows, hell, management is just as "bad." Part of running a team is working with the varying strengths and weaknesses of your people.
Sipher6@reddit
My ADD I need to keep busy or I get bored. I'll working on 2 tickets while sending teams msg with other user needing help
Historical_Score_842@reddit
Do you take medication