| Copyright (c) 2007 Jennifer Koretsky | | | | and I mean stressing - about how clean her house |
| Adults with ADD are not "wired" for details. We're | | | | was (or wasn't). She was reluctant to delegate house |
| creative-types, entrepreneurs, inventors, idea | | | | cleaning to a professional cleaning person or to her |
| generators, and big picture thinkers. | | | | kids because she thought it would take too much time |
| When an adult with ADD is confronted with too many | | | | to explain how she likes it all done. |
| details to tend to, overwhelm quickly sets in. This is not | | | | This is perfectionism - she's not willing to let go of a |
| a character flaw - it's quite simply just not what we're | | | | task and let someone run with it. This client felt that if |
| wired for. | | | | the house wasn't cleaned her way, it wouldn't be |
| There is actually a simple solution for dealing with | | | | cleaned right. In order for her to delegate this, she had |
| details, and it might surprise you: don't deal with them. | | | | to trust in a professional cleaning service, and in her |
| A truly successful adult with ADD knows how to | | | | kids, and just let go of the responsibility altogether. |
| delegate the details, in both the personal and | | | | As a result, this client has found that her relationship |
| professional realms. But many ADDers struggle with | | | | with her kids has improved. They certainly did object |
| delegation. When coaching clients to delegate the | | | | when she first delegated certain daily responsibilities to |
| details (projects, tasks, and chores) that overwhelm | | | | them, but her stress level has decreased tremendously |
| them, there are three common objections that I hear. | | | | and that has had a very positive effect on her |
| Objection #1: Cost | | | | relationship with her kids. |
| A client has an online business that has a loyal | | | | Objection #3: Taking Care of Others |
| customer base. He sells a lot of merchandise, and has | | | | Another client is the president of a professional |
| been doing all the order processing by himself! This | | | | organization and is in charge of a big annual event. As |
| means taking care of the order fulfillment, the shipping, | | | | the lead person on this event, she needs to delegate a |
| and the customer service - all on his own! He was | | | | lot of work, or it simply won't get done! But she had a |
| reluctant to delegate order fulfillment to a company | | | | lot of guilt about delegating projects without first |
| that supplies such services because he was afraid it | | | | "cleaning them up." Instead of handing over a file and |
| would cost too much money. | | | | saying "Here you go, this is what I need, please figure it |
| Delegating this type of ongoing task to a service | | | | out," she was spinning her wheels trying to clean up |
| company certainly will cost some money, but it's an | | | | the file and make the project as simple as possible. |
| investment in the client's piece of mind and the | | | | In this example, the client is not really delegating, |
| company's future. When the details of order fulfillment | | | | because she's too busy taking care of the people |
| are taken care of, he is free to focus on what he | | | | helping her. It's very considerate, but doesn't move her |
| does best - business development. The business then | | | | project forward. Politely delegating projects, chores, |
| grows, more money comes in, and the cost of the | | | | and tasks is not mean, rude, or unreasonable - it's |
| fulfillment company is more than made up for in sales | | | | necessary, especially in the position that this client was |
| and growth. | | | | in. Without delegation, nothing would get done. |
| Objection #2: Perfectionism | | | | In order to lower stress and ensure success, adults |
| Another client is a single mom who is a partner at a | | | | with ADD should ask themselves on a regular basis |
| top-notch law firm. She works a lot of hours, and does | | | | "What would I really love to delegate, and how can I |
| her best to spend quality time with her two teenagers. | | | | go about delegating it immediately? |
| But she was also spending a lot of time stressing - | | | | |