Four Reasons ADHD Makes Me Great at Working in Retail
When you tell someone that you have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), they immediately associate this with the bubbly, hyperactive traits that are most prominently visible. While this is just the tip of the iceberg of symptoms, I like that being neurodiverse can also bring with it some positive qualities to how the world sees ADHD.
I have worked exclusively in customer service roles for ten years. Serving hundreds of people a day can certainly pose its challenges, as you need to treat every customer differently. Each person that I help is with me for five minutes maximum, and within that time I need to evaluate the tone, content and amount of conversation they expect. I am proud to say I am complimented on my people skills quite often, and a lot of the energy and creativeness I bring to my job is thanks to my ADHD.
With there being a variety of inconvenient and even debilitating symptoms that can present with ADHD, I think it's important to celebrate the strengths that come with it too. It can be very easy to feel like I’m letting my colleagues down when I’m having a bad mental health day. If you, or someone you know is neurodiverse, then reminding them of these positive character traits is a way to show you appreciate them, and the skills they can offer.
Hyperfocus- What does it actually mean?
Hyperfocus is a fixation or extreme concentration that engulfs my thoughts and attention, and is very commonly associated with ADHD. Most of the time it will be a new craft project or hobby, and it’s not something I can choose to switch on and off. Fortunately for me, I do tend to hyperfocus on tasks at work (such as date checks and cleaning).
Completing a checklist gives me a massive sense of satisfaction, and with it a dopamine rush that my brain constantly craves. I can be extremely detail orientated and meticulous with my work to ensure I get the sense of achievement attached to a job well done. Hyperfocus gets me enthusiastic and creative with my ideas. People with ADHD are extremely resourceful and think outside the box, this makes problem-solving something I really enjoy.
I’m naturally sociaable and approachable
A selfie of Emma. She is a white woman with medium-length red hair. She is wearing glasses and a blue top.
Having bursts of hyperactivity and enthusiasm is a great asset to my work. Not only do I get things done quickly, but my enthusiasm can quickly spread through the team. A happy workforce gets more done, and happiness is definitely contagious!
I am also responsible for training new colleagues, and welcoming them into the store on their first day. Being a massive people-person is a real asset here, as I can make people feel at home very quickly. Breaking the ice is something I’m great at because I am regularly switching between a wide range of interests - I can usually find common ground with people pretty quickly!
This is also a plus for working on the checkouts. Empathy, enthusiasm and being easily approachable are common traits for ADHD and perfect for customer service roles.
2. I thrive under pressure
I am surprisingly productive in a crisis. Constantly seeing the world from a different perspective means that I can adapt fast. Working in an overstimulating environment can mean I become more focused, and people with ADHD tend to be more creative about their problem-solving approaches. I work in a supermarket that runs with as few people working in-store as possible. This means I will have at least two responsibilities at one time. Serving customers, tidying the shop and cleaning any spillages around the checkout keeps me busy, and most importantly - engaged.
One task for eight hours can very quickly become monotonous and challenging for me, so I relish the opportunity to shine under pressure like this.
3. I’m great at organising and planning
An overhead shot of different diaries and calendars scattered across a grey desk. There is a multicoloured pen sitting on top of the calendar in the middle of the desk.
Having ADHD means I have a strong set of organisational skills already in place. These are different methods I have learned to keep on track with my daily tasks, and to ensure I don’t forget any upcoming responsibilities. It is essential for me to plan my days in advance, as I have trouble remembering to complete things, or just find it too overwhelming and time-consuming if I don’t already have it organised into my day. Having these skills in place is a real advantage as I transfer them easily into the workplace. It also means I have a talent for knowing where to find items that have been left in a strange space - my brain makes a note of it as I find it odd.
4. ADHD is my superpower
Whilst living with ADHD can have its challenges, it also contributes a lot of positives to my everyday life and career. Neurodiversity can be a gift, and contributes friendly, hard-working, vivacious and out-of-the-box thinking strengths. For me, this is the perfect combination when working in a customer-focused and fast paced role.