Skye Waterson: Creative work and ADHD

Summary

Design Better Podcast Episode Summary: Skye Watterson on Creative Work and ADHD

Released on October 1, 2024 by The Curiosity Department, LLC

---

Introduction

In this insightful episode of Design Better, hosts Eli Woolery and Aarron Walter delve into the nuanced relationship between creativity and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with their guest, Skye Watterson, an expert in ADHD coaching and the founder of the Unconventional Organization. This conversation uncovers how ADHD can be harnessed as a unique strength in creative professions and explores strategies to navigate the challenges it presents in the modern workplace.

---

Skye Watterson’s Journey and Expertise

Skye Watterson shares her personal journey with ADHD, detailing her unexpected diagnosis during her PhD studies. This revelation not only transformed her personal life but also propelled her into a career dedicated to supporting professionals with ADHD.

• Diagnosis Experience:
  "I was always going, so I have combined type ADHD, driven by a motor type...I felt like maybe I had been burning myself out."
  [07:39] – Skye discusses how her diagnosis helped her understand her persistent drive and frequent changes in direction, which previously led to burnout.

• Founding the Unconventional Organization:
  Skye established her international business to assist over 800 professionals in managing ADHD, emphasizing personalized strategies to leverage their unique strengths.

---

Understanding ADHD in Creative Fields

The discussion highlights the prevalence of ADHD among creative professionals and how it can serve as a catalyst for innovation and original thinking.

• ADHD as a Superpower:
  "We are good at creative thinking, creative problem solving, original thinking...it's hard not to see how that would be an advantage."
  [00:50] – Skye underscores the inherent creative advantages that ADHD can confer, such as the ability to synthesize disparate ideas into novel concepts.

• Hyperfocus and Creativity:
  "There’s a fixation on particular things that can manifest...Sometimes it's super focus."
  [09:23] – The conversation explores how hyperfocus, a common trait among those with ADHD, can enhance creative output when properly channeled.

---

Challenges Faced by Individuals with ADHD in the Workplace

Skye identifies key obstacles that professionals with ADHD encounter, particularly within rigid work environments that fail to accommodate their needs.

• Lack of Flexibility:
  "The more the workplace imposes a system and there's a lack of flexibility, the harder it is."
  [10:34] – She explains how stringent organizational structures can hinder productivity and exacerbate feelings of overwhelm among ADHD individuals.

• Executive Functioning Struggles:
  "If you're struggling with time blindness... that's what you're looking for."
  [09:23] – Skye discusses common executive functioning challenges, such as time management and working memory deficits, which can impede task completion and workflow.

---

Strategies for Thriving with ADHD in Creative Roles

The episode offers practical solutions and communication strategies to foster a more inclusive and productive environment for neurodiverse professionals.

• Personalized Organizational Systems:
  Skye emphasizes the importance of tailoring organizational tools to fit individual needs, rather than enforcing one-size-fits-all systems that may not accommodate ADHD traits.

• Leveraging Strengths:
  "You’re not getting to use your strengths... spending your whole day fighting against your weaknesses."
  [10:34] – Encouraging employers and colleagues to recognize and utilize the unique strengths of ADHD individuals can lead to enhanced collaboration and innovation.

• Communication Techniques:
  Implementing clear and flexible communication methods can bridge gaps between neurodiverse team members and their peers, fostering a more supportive work environment.

---

Impact and Conclusion

Skye Watterson’s expertise sheds light on the transformative potential of embracing ADHD within creative and professional spheres. Her insights advocate for a shift towards more adaptable workplace practices that not only mitigate challenges but also harness the exceptional creativity and problem-solving abilities inherent in individuals with ADHD.

• Personal Transformation:
  "I haven't actually burned out since I got the diagnosis, which was amazing."
  [07:39] – Skye reflects on how understanding her ADHD allowed her to implement effective strategies that have sustained her career and personal well-being.

• Empowering Neurodiversity:
  The conversation concludes with a powerful message on the importance of recognizing and valuing neurodiversity as a driving force for innovation and excellence in design and technology fields.

---

Key Takeaways

• ADHD can be a significant asset in creative professions, enhancing originality and problem-solving capabilities.
• Flexible workplace environments are crucial for supporting neurodiverse individuals, allowing them to apply their strengths effectively.
• Personalized strategies and tools can mitigate ADHD-related challenges, leading to sustained productivity and reduced burnout.
• Open communication and inclusive practices foster a collaborative and innovative work culture that benefits all team members.

---

This episode of Design Better offers a compelling exploration of ADHD's role in creative work, providing valuable insights for both individuals with ADHD and organizations aiming to cultivate a more inclusive and dynamic workforce.

---

Notable Quotes:

• "We are good at creative thinking, creative problem solving, original thinking... it's hard not to see how that would be an advantage." – Skye Watterson [00:50]

• "The more the workplace imposes a system and there's a lack of flexibility, the harder it is." – Skye Watterson [10:34]

• "I haven't actually burned out since I got the diagnosis, which was amazing." – Skye Watterson [07:39]

---

For those eager to delve deeper into the intersection of design, technology, and neurodiversity, subscribing to Design Better provides access to exclusive content and further enriching discussions.

Transcript

[Aaron Walter]

Hi there, Aaron Walter here. If you're hearing this, you're not currently on our premium subscriber feed. Design Better Premium subscribers Enjoy weekly episodes, four episodes per month in total rather than two, all ad free and invitations to our monthly AMAs with the smartest folks in design and tech. You'll hear a preview of this episode, but if you'd like to hear the full conversation, please consider becoming a premium [e-mail] subscribe. It's just $7 a month and it supports not only your personal growth, it also makes our work at Design Better possible. The podcast is available to everyone through our scholarship program. If you can't afford a subscription, email [e-mail] and we'll help you out.

[Sky Watterson]

We do know from the research that we are good at creative thinking, creative problem solving, original thinking. That kind of space is very adh. We're good at saying, okay, well, if you take this idea and this idea and you put them together, you come up with something completely different. And so it's hard not to see how that would be an advantage.

[Aaron Walter]

We've talked with people across many creative disciplines on Design Better over the years, and there's a red thread that keeps popping up. Many creative people are neurodivergent in some way. A diagnosis of ADHD in childhood can seem like a disadvantage, but it can actually become a superpower that enables hyper focus and deep learning. We wanted to learn more about adhd, so we called in an expert, Sky Watterson.

[Eli Wooler]

Sky received a surprise ADHD diagnosis herself at the beginning of her PhD program, which led her to research and develop strategies to help other adults with ADHD reach their potential. Now she has an international business called the Unconventional Organization, which supports more than 800 professionals with ADHD. We spoke with sky about some common challenges that people with ADHD face at work, why the modern work environment does not always work for ADHD thinkers, as well as some communication strategies for collaborating with neurodiverse people in your own work. This is Design Better, where we explore creativity at the intersection of design and technology. I'm Eli Wooler.

[Aaron Walter]

And I'm Aaron Walter. You can get AD free episodes, bonus content, discounted workshops, and access to our monthly AMAs with big names in design and tech. By becoming a Design Better premium subscriber. It's also the best way to support the show. Visit designbetterpodcast.com subscribe to learn more. We'll return to the conversation after this quick break. Hey Web Designers, let's talk about creative burnout. You're working on a site for a really big client, but between resourcing, feedback, tight budgets and even tighter deadlines, it just doesn't make the cut. Wix Studio helps close that gap so you can deliver your vision with less friction. Built for agencies and enterprises, you get total creative control over every last pixel. With no code, animations, AI powered tools, reusable design assets, advanced intuitive layout tools, and a figma to WIX Studio integration, which is very cool. You can design the way that you want to and deliver when you need to. And if you're worried about the learning curve eating into time you don't have, don't be. Wix Studio is intuitive by design so your entire team can hit the ground running for your next project. Check out Wix Studio.com that's Wix Studio.com W I X S T U D I O I love wine, but I often feel overwhelmed by the options out there. But I recently joined Wine Access and I'm learning a lot. Wine Access not only shipped to your door some of the world's most inspiring wines, they also educate subscribers with full color information cards that accompany each bottle. I love these cards. They provide details on flavor profile, what food your wine pairs well with, how long to decant, the ideal drinking temperature, and plenty of fascinating information about the producers. This month I got a four bottle shipment from Wine Access new club called the Wait List which is curated by culinary icons. The box I received is from Atomics, a two Michelin star restaurant and the top US restaurant on the World's 50 Best list. Other curators include Emeril yes, that Emeril of New Orleans and Daniel Boulud and his flagship restaurant Danielle in New York City which is also a two Michelin star restaurant. It's such a fun way to learn about wine and everything you receive will be a winner. I've been super impressed by how thoughtfully Wine Access curates and educates. You should totally join the Waitlist wine Club. Just visit wineaccess.com waitlist and use promo code designbetter all one word for 25 bucks off your first shipment. That's wineaccess.com waitlist and Use the code designbetter to save 25 dollars. The holidays in snuggly weather are upon us. It's a great time to enjoy great wine with the people that you love. Wineaccess.com waitlist and now back to the show. Skye Watterson, welcome to the Design Better podcast.

[Sky Watterson]

Yeah, thanks for having Me. It's wonderful to be here.

[Aaron Walter]

Sky, you are an expert in adhd, and you coach and support a lot of folks to help them develop strategies to use their ADHD and just be more aware of how their mind works so their careers can go in the direction that they want them to go. And you run an organization called Unconventional Organization. Maybe you could just give us a quick overview of what you do.

[Sky Watterson]

Yeah, so we have recently kind of focused in what we do. So this is a good question. We help professionals who've been late diagnosed with ADHD manage their overwhelm, essentially. So particularly focusing in on people who are professionals and who also have that late diagnosis, because I know that is so common. It was for me as well.

[Aaron Walter]

Yeah. Tell us about your story. You were a PhD student, and you got a surprise diagnosis that you, too, have adhd.

[Sky Watterson]

Yeah, So I finished my master's and I took a year off, and I knew there was something going on. You know, I had some feedback that maybe I had dyslexia or something was happening. And so I went to the Inclusive Learning center, which I was really lucky to have, and I just sort of said, do I have something like, test me? And they did. They did a whole battery of driven tests over a couple of days. And they came back and they said, hey, I don't know about the dyslexia, but, you know, it definitely seems like you have adhd. You should go get tested for that. And that was a real surprise because I'd studied, you know, psychology and even taught human development. But adhd, when I was, you know, there, it was very much something kids had. We didn't really talk about it as much with adults.

[Eli Wooler]

Maybe you could talk a little bit about how that sort of manifested for you, what the diagnosis, that initial diagnosis, kind of what you went through during that period, and then what that led you to in the pivot in your career.

[Sky Watterson]

Yeah, I mean, I think for me, how it came through was very much around. I was always going, so I have combined type adhd, so I've got that driven by a motor type. So I was always going in a direction, but the direction was kind of switching a lot. I was one of those people who couldn't, you know, stick with one space. And I. One of the reasons for it was because I felt like whenever something wasn't working, it was because I wasn't in the right industry or the right area or the right subject. And so I would spend a lot of time, you know, burning myself out, essentially. And this is something I see before with other people is like in that burnout cycle. And so when I found out I had adhd, it was a huge revelation and a good opportunity for me to look at what ADHD was. And as I'm an academic, I did have access to the research, so I was able to start sort of doing my own independent research into that area to see what's going on. And that helped a lot with removing a lot of the excessive organizational systems that weren't really serving me. But I just like felt like maybe they had been serving me and also to reduce that burnout. So I haven't actually burned out since I got the diagnosis, which was amazing.

[Aaron Walter]

Are there a variety of traits that show up with folks with adhd, I ask? Because there are certainly people in my family who have adhd and there's certainly. There's like a fast brain trait which is sort of like hyper processing. Sometimes there's a fixation on particular things that can manifest. It's not always the typical thing of like, hey, I can't focus on one thing at once. Sometimes it's super focus.

[Sky Watterson]

Yeah, that hyperfocus for sure. It's interesting. So there's a lot of different ways you can look at it. I mean, the first thing we'll say is that with adhd, all of these things have to be persistent and pervasive. That's the key because everyone will experience this sometimes. But if it's persistent and it's pervasive across all different areas of your life, that's kind of what you're looking for. And then within that, what we particularly focus in on is the executive functioning struggles. So if you're struggling with time blindness, which I really only learned about when I got diagnosed, this concept that you struggle to sense time passing to see time, essentially working memory struggles, you might have a good long term memory, you might be able to talk for ages about your topic of interest. But if someone says like, oh, hey, before you go, can you just grab that thing when you get back? And you're like, nope, it's gone. You know, that's a working memory. And then, you know, transitioning between multiple meetings during the day, you know, versus needing those bigger spans of time. Things like that are particularly where we start to see people struggling with adhd.

[Eli Wooler]

Skye, maybe you could talk to us a little bit about some common challenges that your clients face at work and how you help them address those challenges.

[Sky Watterson]

I tend to work with three types of people. Academics, people in the creative field, and tech people. Those are kind of the three that come. And so when we're talking about the struggles people have, there's two main issues that people struggle with. One is a lack of flexibility in the workplace. So the more the workplace imposes a system and there's a lack of flexibility, the harder it is. So that could be you're not allowed to download your own apps, you have to use the system, you're not allowed to use Google Calendar, you have to use Outlook Calendar, you're not allowed to come in at a certain time. Any of those systematic structures can make it hard with adhd, because we often need something that's not totally different but just slightly adjusted. And then the other part is when you don't get to use your strengths. So you're basically spending your whole day sort of fighting against your weaknesses around admin and those sort of if you'd.

[Aaron Walter]

Like to continue listening to this conversation, you'll need to [e-mail] subscribe Once you do, you'll get access to every full length episode, all ad free monthly AMAs with inspiring people in design and tech and recordings of all our past AMAs. The podcast is available to everyone through our scholarship program. If you can't afford a subscription, just email [e-mail] and we'll help you out. Your support makes design better possible. Invest in yourself and the design community by subscribing at DesignBetterPodcast. COMBINATION.