Is Corporate ADHD a Thing? Or Are We Just Addicted to Distraction?

Lately, I’ve found myself asking a genuine question:
Is corporate ADHD a real thing, or are we just stuck in a culture of constant interruption?

Here’s what it looks like:

- You start replying to an email.
- Ping. Slack message.
- Suddenly, you remember a meeting you haven’t prepped for.
- Someone walks in, your brain shifts to a missed deadline, and before you know it… It’s 3:00 p.m., and nothing is done.

Sound familiar?
We’re not just multitasking. We’re fragmented minds split across platforms, pings, and half-done thoughts. The result?

- Poor quality output
- Constant reactivity
- Decision fatigue
- A lack of real presence

And it’s not just corporates, I see it in small teams, nonprofits, communities. It’s everywhere.
So, what’s going on?

1. Name it.

You can’t shift what you won’t acknowledge.
Start calling out the distraction culture. Not with blame, with curiosity.
Is this really how we want to work?

2. Create anchors.

Use tools like the Heisenhower Prioritisation Matrix or Focus Sprints to stay grounded.
Ask:
- Is this urgent?
- Is this important?
- Or is this just noise?

3. Shorten the runway.

Try a 25-minute sprint.
No tabs. No Slack. No inbox.
Just one task fully done, start to finish. Then pause, stretch, and reset.

4. Have a laugh.

We all get sidetracked. No shame here. But awareness creates choice.
And small shifts create new rhythms.

Maybe it’s not ADHD. Maybe it’s the way we’ve built work to reward urgency over intentionality.
But here's the good news: we can unbuild it, too. One focused moment at a time.

If you or your organisation need a hand, reach out to us at [email protected]. 

We design tailored programs from strategy workshops to behavioural preference profiling and Operating Rhythm creation and embedment for different types of organisations and industries to help leaders and teams create lasting change.

We also have a Women in Business and Leadership program starting very soon. It could be the first step toward the shift you have been looking for.