We were lucky to catch up with Ryan Mayer recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ryan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. We are excited to get your thoughts around creating more inclusive workplaces. 

Can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a certified ADHD Coach, on a mission to change the way that society (especially in business environments) perceives people with ADHD or other invisible disabilities.

Using my Conquer Your ADHD™️ System, I help business leaders and busy professionals to build systems that allow them to start keeping the promises that they make to themselves and others. 

Having ADHD myself, I call on personal experience to equip my clients – who may feel like they are constantly falling short of their full potential at work and at home – with the strategies to work *WITH* their unique brains to step into the happier life that they truly deserve!

My @ADHD_Coach_RyanMayer videos on social media platforms have inspired millions of people worldwide. My writing about Neuroinclusion in the workplace has been featured in Forbes, ADHD Online and Fast Company. As a thought leader, I have been interviewed by multiple news outlets, including Cheddar News.

I am happily married to my beautiful wife Andrea, who has helped to make all of this possible. We have three adorable children, and live in tropical Cleveland, OH (USA).

Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?

In the life of an entrepreneur, the only thing that is constant is change. In order to advance and grow as a business, two things must happen: “kill” what doesn’t work, and innovate continually. So while I would not consider anything in Ryan Mayer Coaching to be “near-death,” I do think it is important to always be ready to let go of anything that is not moving the business in the right direction.

No matter what the challenge is, I remain both optimistic and determined. I will not be stopped. I am a force of nature and an agent of change. The timing is perfect. I am ready to herald the message that the world is ready to start hearing in this mission of helping the world to see ADHD differently. It is too important of a cause to ever give up on.

The team is behind me, and my fans, followers, and supporters continue to cheer me on.

Failure is NOT an option. That is why we WILL press forward, and do whatever is needed to overcome any setbacks we encounter.

The obstacle is the way, and we are ready.

Have you ever had to pivot?

It was July 2020. The world economy had come to a grinding halt due to the global pandemic. Not exactly ideal conditions to start a business. Unless, of course, you find something that there will ALWAYS be demand for – Life and Mindset Coaching. I knew that many people – myself included – were looking for something that could give them hope that there was light at the end of the tunnel. That we would all make it through this storm. So I decided to start a Coaching business, as a way of offering my optimistic perspective to others, to help them master their mindset. The rate of growth of my business was startling – even to me. It reminded me of the launch of a space shuttle. 🚀 What started as a few leaders seeking my guidance to upgrade their mindset and build a plan to reach their potential sparked the ignition of my Coaching Business. Ryan Mayer Coaching focuses on helping entrepreneurs and business leaders, especially those with ADHD, to conquer whatever challenges they may be up against.

My message and Coaching strategies were well received by my clients. So I decided to take my ideas to social media. In just 60 days, my following went from zero to 330,000! 😳 My message resonated in a big way, because people were seeing THEMSELVES in the content I released each day. My videos helped other people – particularly those who are neurodivergent – to realize that they were not alone. I started to gain clients rapidly. In the last three years, I am as proud as I am amazed to say that I have coached individuals from 21 different countries, and inspired millions of people to take ownership of their results.

For someone like me who has had a career full of job changes, stress, and disappointment, I welcomed the positive attention, and flood of new business inquiries. There were a few things that quickly became apparent to me: the approach of “trading time for money” was not sustainable. There is only one of me to go around, and only so many hours in the day. In the beginning, I felt like a superhero, like I could save everyone. But I learned that some people are simply not ready to be helped, to invest the time, energy, and capital necessary to break through the status quo. But I also realized that my pricing was not feasible for everyone who was following me on social media – and that is where the pivot came in.

I can’t take credit for it. One of my prospective clients asked if I ever offered group coaching. It was like a blindfold had been removed from my business vision. I started offering group coaching, and the business has scaled beautifully since then. I’ve even brought on several associate coaches to help manage the groups. I hope that you can find a way to scale your business like this, because it is such a great feeling to know that everyone involved in the process is better because of it.

What are some common challenges that people with ADHD face in the workplace?

ADHD does NOT discriminate.
For those of us who have ADHD, every area of our lives is experienced through our “ADHD lens”.

At work, one’s performance may be negatively impacted by some of the common symptoms of ADHD, including: distractibility, inattention, forgetfulness, and impulsivity. Time management, organization and completing tasks in a timely manner may also be challenging at work for someone with ADHD.

Nobody enjoys doing boring tasks at work, but those with neurotypical brain wiring are still able to accomplish the requirements of the job. It is not so simple for those of us with ADHD.

Have you ever tried to shower when the water pressure is too low? Sure, you can still get clean, but it takes way longer than it should.

That’s basically what it feels like for us ADHD folks to initiate and complete tasks that our brains don’t find interesting. This is because the neurotransmitter dopamine doesn’t flow “at full pressure” in our brains.

An example of this frustrating phenomenon is the inability to complete the follow up administrative tasks after a new sale has been secured. It is challenging to get the project to the finish line after the thrill of the hunt is over despite the obvious monetary benefits that are just on the other side of the task.

What are some simple accommodations that may be helpful for people with ADHD?

• Distraction reduced environment 
• Standing Desk
• Walking meetings
• Notes ahead of time
• Clear action items
• Checklists
• Timelines for accountability
• More frequent meetings

How can those with ADHD turn it into an asset?

While the forecast for success at work may look bleak and stormy for people with ADHD, it turns out that when put into the right conditions, the rainbow of the neurodivergence shines brightly. If a person with ADHD finds a job they connect with, the sky’s the limit!

The key to leveraging ADHD as a positive in the workplace is to work in our strengths! 

When one of my ADHD coaching clients first reached out to me, she felt completely defeated. She was second-guessing her career choice after being terminated from a job that hadn’t aligned with her ADHD skill set. She temporarily worked several part-time jobs to pay bills, holding onto hope that she could find work in her true passion, scientific research. With the combination of my “Conquer Your ADHD™ System” and lots of persistence, she landed her dream job. Her performance immediately took off, and she has quickly excelled, earning two promotions in a span of 6 months!

How can individuals (with or without ADHD) work to remove any remaining stigma around neurodiversity in the workplace?

I have endured this unfair treatment for much of my career, along with my neurodivergent friends. For example, I’ve always known that I’ve had a special talent for public speaking. What is one of the biggest fears for most humans is second nature to me. Unfortunately, this strength has been overshadowed by my struggles to complete projects and meet deadlines in previous jobs. Even though I was using personal time on nights and weekends in an effort to catch up, I felt hopeless.

Despite the fact that these shortcomings are a result of brain wiring, they only reinforce the negative stereotype that, “People with ADHD make excuses for not being able to do it the way everyone else does.”

Eliminating the lingering stigma associated with neurodiversity in professional settings involves individuals, whether or not they have ADHD, educating themselves and others about ADHD and related conditions. Advocate for neuroinclusion. Foster a culture of acceptance and understanding. The initial stride involves challenging the inaccurate portrayals of neurodivergent individuals.

On an organizational level, leaders have the opportunity to establish and endorse Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) while actively pursuing neuroinclusion training. Additionally, employers can partner with employees and stakeholders to provide reasonable resources for neurodivergent workers.

What types of occupations are best for those with ADHD? What do ADHD employees need in order to thrive in the workplace?

The types of occupations that work best for those with ADHD will be jobs that leverage the individual’s strengths and interests. 

As employees, those with ADHD need to know what the best type of work environment is for their brain. (Do you prefer an active environment bustling with activity? Or would you rather have your own quiet space to work in?) If you’re not sure where to start, you enroll in my groundbreaking text message based course, How To Find Work that WORKS for Your ADHD.

As I tell my coaching clients and followers on social media through my @ADHD_Coach_RyanMayer Instagram account: “Own your ADHD!” Take ownership. Clarify what your needs are. I help my clients, as well as their employers, to work with their brain to develop structures and routines that will help them succeed at work and in life.

What role should employers play in supporting employees who have ADHD? Why are such employees valuable to the organization?

Employers can play an important role in supporting employees who have ADHD by fostering an accepting environment for all individuals, regardless of their neuro type. 

According to the landmark book, “A Hidden Force: Unlocking the Potential of Neurodiversity at Work,” by Ed Thompson, currently only 10% of employees with disabilities willingly choose to disclose, for fear of discrimination. Therefore, companies should be encouraged to promote a neuroinclusive workplace. Companies can do this by having a welcoming culture of acceptance and encouraging managers to communicate with their direct reports in the style that best suits their brain wiring.

In one of my past jobs, I was hands down the best in my department at giving presentations. I regularly received compliments on my engaging talks and was actually requested by other departments to have me sent, rather than the colleagues who normally gave the presentations. 

Conversely, the parts of my job that required administrative follow through were monumentally challenging for me due to my ADHD. When I approached the Senior Director of our department about swapping job duties with a coworker who despised presenting (and was super efficient with admin work), the request was quickly rejected. The response that the leadership team gave me was “That’s not how we do things here.” What a shame. I wonder how many organizations are buying into that same kind of bureaucracy?

I implore you leaders who are reading this – find out if your individual contributors feel they are getting to leverage their strengths! Why not let them do what they do best? The strategy of “job carving” can help neurodiverse employees feel like they are contributing their best selves to the organization. Also, the company benefits by getting the best work out of each employee.

When corporate leadership teams focus too heavily on cost saving measures, it may be easy for them to forget that the people who are part of their organization are more than just an expense on the operational budget.

How can coworkers support their colleagues with ADHD?

Coworkers can offer support for their neurodivergent colleagues by being understanding and patient, communicating clearly, and providing positive feedback. They can also encourage their colleagues to consider exploring accommodations if needed and promote a culture of acceptance and inclusion.

FREE ADHD Productivity Guide

As a busy professional, you know that will power does NOT always work.

That’s why I have compiled (10) ADHD-friendly strategies that DO work!

This FREE guide will give you:

• Quick tips you can use RIGHT NOW to improve your mood
• Break you out of the shame spiral you’re stuck in
• Activate your brain during the workday WITHOUT having to leave the office
• Take your productivity to the next level to make more money 
• Simple changes to set yourself up for success.
• Feel physically better & mentally.

If you are sick of not reaching your full potential due to ADHD, download my free guide for the top tips to regain your confidence at work!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ryanmayercoaching.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhd_coach_ryanmayer/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDcoachRyan
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ryan-mayer-adhd-coaching/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ADHD_Coach_Ryan
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RyanMayerCoaching
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_coach_ryan?lang=en
• Personal LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanmayerpeopleconnector/

Image Credits
Yevhen Gulenko

Image Credits
Yevhen Gulenko