What tips can you provide for working successfully with a boss who displays ADD characteristics?

K Ellen,

That is a toughy. If I had been your boss, you would need a tough skin.

I snapped alot. I lost things, notes, papers, a great deal. Also, I blamed others for moving things, missing things, before I ever could locate something myself. This was an extremely big issue for me at home and in the office. The more plentiful the work load, the easier it was for me to lose track of things. In one job I had a book that stressed out my secretary but aided me. It had 102 little pockets. In each little pocket I stuck a small paper with just the title of a project/step/task that had to be done. I could flip through the pages to review what needed to be done. Kept me and the project on track. My point, a visual spread sheet or MS Project or any word document you could do to display how a project or task is progress might help. 

To tell me verbally was bad. To tell me in writing was better.

I had a list of things to say at meetings to keep me focused, so I would not forget.

You can only impact those things that the boss does with you around your work and tasks.

So, I would keep back up copies digitally of everything you send to the boss. Not out of paranoia, just in good measure so if asked to reproduce it, you can do so without hesitation or frustration of recreation.

Your support must be provided tactfully, gracefully without any implication of his weakness. Rather, make it look like his idea that you help him. That you may benefit as well. General I know, but that's the best I can do with the little I know about the situation.

You almost need to do your review of your boss to figure out by his behaviors what are his greatest weaknesses. If you can be his strength in a few of his weak areas, that can make you both loook great. He amy come to trust your work techniques.

A good boss should hire people whose skills compliment their own. Too often they don't out of fear of competition and safety of keeping their own job.

If you raise ADHD issue related to him, your job and his trust in you will be at risk. Rather, see if you can present yoruself as a team player. Offering to step up to the plate in some area you think you "could learn in" that he is weak at that you can show him a piece of paper, chart, list, plan, anything, that might relieve him/her of some dreaded task not yet done. You must follow through on it to do both you and the boss good.

Does any of this sound feasible to you?

Let me know if this is helpful or way off base?

Marilyn