Summary
After speaking with several colleagues in the DesignOps space, Jessica noticed a trend. Many of them, like herself, had ADHD. Another Observation: DesignOps is a field where those with ADHD can thrive. People with ADHD are often best suited to jobs that are purposeful, fast-paced, allow autonomy and involve lots of variety (as well as risk taking). The characteristics of empathy, energy, passion, and hyper focus under pressure which come with ADHD, make ADHD a DesignOps superpower. Don’t have ADHD? Come learn more about how to work well with some of your colleagues who do! Takeaways An understanding of the types of skills and personality traits that are beneficial in a DesignOps role. How to encourage neurodiverse hiring practices. How to inspire and empower individuals to consider a career in Design Operations.
Key Insights
-
•
ADHD is often undiagnosed in women due to differing symptom presentation.
-
•
Women with ADHD may be seen as chatty or forgetful, rather than inattentive or hyperactive.
-
•
Jess compares ADHD to having a race car engine for a brain with bicycle brakes, emphasizing the potential strength and speed when properly managed.
-
•
ADHD can thrive in dynamic environments that keep individuals engaged and focused.
-
•
Proper strategies and therapy can help manage the challenges of ADHD, turning perceived weaknesses into strengths.
-
•
Jess has observed that many of her colleagues in design operations are also neurodivergent, indicating a high prevalence in the field.
-
•
Hyperfocus can be a superpower for people with ADHD, allowing them to deeply engage with tasks they find interesting.
-
•
Clear and explicit feedback is crucial for individuals with ADHD, as they can be sensitive to rejection.
-
•
Involving neurodivergent individuals in the design process enhances inclusivity and addresses diverse cognitive needs.
-
•
Creating team charters and openly discussing work preferences can help foster understanding among team members.
Notable Quotes
"I said I'm ADHD."
"ADHD can also be quite good at masking."
"Having ADHD is like having a race car engine for a brain but with the brakes of a bicycle."
"In the right situations, ADHD can actually have a lot of drive to get it done."
"I know I crave the satisfaction of achieving something and taking it off to get that little hit of dopamine."
"It's really important to know that ADHD isn't actually a deficit of attention, but instead trouble regulating it."
"The best advice I ever received was to find something in every project that interests you."
"I've learned to be very organized to function and really get the best out of my brain."
"Everyone may have different energy levels depending on the time of day."
"The difference is for those with ADHD, these symptoms are chronic and debilitating."
More Videos
"Foresight is a set of skills that can help you consider the future with critical thinking."
April ReaganLook, Think, Act: The Futures-Smart Design Organization
October 1, 2021
"Computing is moving away from screen-based interactions, inviting new ways to understand user experience."
Dane DeSutterKeeping the Body in Mind: What Gestures and Embodied Actions Tell You That Users May Not
March 26, 2024
"The products you ship are direct reflections of your organizational processes."
Tatyana MamutOpening Keynote: Breaking Conway's Law--or How to Work Differently and Not Ship Your Org Chart
June 3, 2019
"We need our sticky notes to feed the truth to product teams."
Ana Maria Montero Barrantes Aditi Dhar Michelle Kaplan Nate Osborne Matt LaurenceThe Authentic UX Talent Show
January 8, 2024
"Digital sustainability can be integrated with business goals for a triple win: user, planet, and profit."
Ned Gartside Mike Gifford Zoe Lopez-Latorre Tzviya SiegmanNavigating accessibility and climate
April 17, 2024
"Most modern mobile apps have features that aren't offered on desktop websites."
Sam ProulxMobile Accessibility: Why Moving Accessibility Beyond the Desktop is Critical in a Mobile-first World
September 8, 2022
"You want partnership, you want someone who thinks in terms of business and helps you achieve your business results."
Melinda BelcherInsider preview of Enterprise Experience 2020
May 28, 2020
"Let's think about how to empathize with not just people but all living beings."
Christian BasonExpand—Rethinking Design for Public Challenges
September 14, 2022
"As knowledge evolves, our practice to provide amazing user experiences must scale with it."
Ren PopeBuilding Experiences for Knowledge Systems
June 6, 2023
