ADHD in the Tech Workplace: How It Shows Up, What Can Help

Working in tech with ADHD can be both exciting and overwhelming. Maybe your mind lights up with ideas during a brainstorm, but hits a wall when it’s time to prioritize tasks. Or maybe you’re deeply focused on code for hours, but forget to respond to your team’s Slack messages.

ADHD doesn’t show up the same way for everyone, and it definitely doesn’t show up the same way in every job. That’s why we’ve created a series of role-specific guides to help you understand how ADHD might interact with the real demands of your work, and what you can do about it.

These resources are designed to help you find tools that actually make sense for you, in your role, in the real world of work.

ADHD Looks Different in Every Job (and Every Person)

A product manager juggling stakeholder alignment might struggle with context-switching. A data scientist might wrestle with hyperfocus and perfectionism. A sales professional might have all the energy but none of the follow-up systems. Even in similar roles, two people with ADHD might need completely different supports.

These guides are a starting point and not a prescription. Some strategies might click right away. Others might not be for you. And what works now might stop working later. That’s okay. ADHD management is dynamic, and so are you.

Start with Curiosity (Not Self-Criticism)

Before jumping into problem-solving mode, start by asking yourself some curious questions. ADHD-related challenges often trace back to executive functioning; skills like impulse control, time management, and working memory.

So when something’s not working, try asking:

• I wonder why this keeps happening?

• Is this about motivation, overwhelm, or something else?

• Is this a systems issue — or is my brain just wired differently here?

When you get curious, instead of judgmental, you open the door to real solutions, not just temporary fixes.

ADHD Work Strategies by Role

Click into the guide that matches your role to find ADHD-friendly tools, mindsets, and support ideas that align with your day-to-day responsibilities.

Engineering & Development

• Hardware Engineer / Chip Designer Staying sharp in complex, detail-heavy systems

• Software Developer Managing time, tasks, and code with more ease

• Solutions Engineer / Sales Engineer Navigating customer-facing technical work with clarity

Data & Research

• Data Scientist Balancing curiosity and focus in a data-rich world

• Research Scientist Staying forward-moving in deep, exploratory work

Product & Project Management

• Product Manager

  Staying aligned and agile in fast-moving environments

• IT Project Manager

  Handling complexity and coordination with support

Leadership & Strategy

• Director / VP / Department Head Leading with vision while managing overwhelm

Corporate & Functional Roles

• Legal / Compliance / Policy Roles Staying clear, calm, and credible under pressure

• Human Resources Professional Supporting others while managing your own systems

• Financial Analyst Building systems to support detail-heavy, analytical work

Operations & Business Backbone

• Operations Manager Staying in control of moving parts and priorities

• Supply Chain Manager Aligning across systems without burning out

Sales & Marketing

• Sales & Marketing Professional Channeling energy and staying consistent with follow-through

Not Everything Will Work. That’s Okay.

Part of ADHD management is experimentation. What helps today might feel irrelevant next month. You might need to switch tools, routines, or even your entire approach. That doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong; it means you’re learning what works for you.

Use these role-based guides as a jumping-off point. Try something, tweak it, toss what doesn’t work, and keep what helps.

Want More Personalized Support?

These guides are just one part of your ADHD toolkit. As an Agave member, you can dive deeper in your 1:1 coaching or group sessions to explore strategies that are specific to your work style, brain, and career goals.

And if you ever feel stuck? Bring it up with your coach. You're not alone, and you don't have to figure this out solo.

Let us know which guide resonates most with you, or what roles you'd like to see added next. We’re building this resource for (and with) you.