ADHD Communication Issues?

If you have ADHD or ADD, do you argue with otherjelly for my toast," much of that push and pull wouldn't
people often? I mean, do you spend half-an-hourhave happened. But you didn't communicate what you
exchanging words without getting your point across?wanted clearly. The old saying still applies: The shortest
Even when you're saying exactly the same thing asdistance between any two points is a straight line.
the person you're arguing with, you can't come to aIn business, clarity of communication is very important.
meeting of the minds. How frustrating is that?What happens when your boss brings you a job and
No wonder you're frustrated! Arguments just makeexplains it, but you're still fuzzy on the details? Do you
you feel off-balance. But often, arguments arise notspeak up, or just do the job your way? If you don't get
because there's a difference in opinion, but only aanswers to make the task clear and do it wrong, then
difference in how the opinion is expressed. Manywhat? It's important to ask questions when you don't
people with AD/HD have this problem and when youquite understand what your boss means. For all you
don't feel understood, it can also make you feel very,know, unless they've been open about it, he or she
very alone. It's like nobody understands you.might be AD/HD, too, and has trouble explaining things
But when you learn a few tricks about communicatingclearly..
clearly, this will happen to you much less often.But what if you're on the other end of this
Notice how easy life is for people that communicateprocess--you're the one giving instructions? Now, it's
well. They' re able to express what they want clearlyvery important to be perfectly clear about what you
and most of the time, they get it. And these skills arewant. But you can't leave it at that. At the end of your
applicable whether you're talking about business orexplanation, you have to say, "Was anything about
inter-personal relationships.what I just told you unclear?" Don't just trot off after a
For instance, you're in a restaurant and you tell thequick explanation and think that the person
server what you want for your meal. You say, "I'll haveunderstands because they well may not. You have to
scrambled eggs and bacon." But you forgot to tell theleave the door open for questions, especially because
server you needed ketchup for your eggs. So, heyou have AD/HD and have a tendency to be unclear.
goes to get it for you. In the meantime, you've lookedIf your employee feels that your door is open to them,
at your bacon and it's crispy, when you prefer it to bethey'll be more confident about doing their job, too.
a bit chewy. Now, you're unhappy with the cook. So,Once you realize that you can explain something fully
you tell the server and he takes the bacon and bringsand have better communications with everyone, your
back fresh, which is cooked to your order. But wait!life will get easier. Forget that when you were a kid
You forgot to get some jelly for the toast that cameyou were probably chastised for talking too much. In
on the side, so now, you want jelly. The server isresponse, you're just talking too little! Be clear and
ready to go bananas!make yourself heard. Better communication skills will
Of course he is. If you had said, "I'd like scrambledhelp you in any situation.
eggs and chewy bacon, with ketchup on the side, and