Paradoxical career strengths and successes of ADHD adults: an evolving narrative
Purpose – Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neuro-developmental condition that has frequently been pathologised in career research and broader society to date. The study seeks to reframe such assumptions through a qualitative positive-focused exploration of career stories of ADHD...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Emerald Publishing
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Work-Applied Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JWAM-05-2023-0048/full/pdf |
| _version_ | 1797213255986315264 |
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| author | Tamsin Crook Almuth McDowall |
| author_facet | Tamsin Crook Almuth McDowall |
| author_sort | Tamsin Crook |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose – Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neuro-developmental condition that has frequently been pathologised in career research and broader society to date. The study seeks to reframe such assumptions through a qualitative positive-focused exploration of career stories of ADHD adults, elicited through a strength-focused technique with wide applicability for coaching and other career-based development activities. Design/methodology/approach – Situated in a strength-focused coaching psychology paradigm, the authors undertook semi-structured interviews with 17 participants, using an adapted feedforward interview technique (FFI) rooted in positive psychology (PP), to investigate individuals' strengths and successful career experiences. Findings – Narrative thematic analysis of the transcripts identified two core themes: “the paradoxical nature of strengths” and “career success as an evolving narrative”. The participants described how they have achieved career success both “in spite of” and “because of” ADHD. The use of the FFI demonstrated a helpful and easily taught method for eliciting personal narratives of success and strengths, an essential foundation to any coaching process. Originality/value – This research provides a nuanced overview, and an associated conceptual model, of how adults with ADHD perceive their career-based strengths and experiences of success. Further, the research shows the value of using a positive psychological coaching approach when working with neurominority individuals, using a successful adaptation of the FFI. The authors hope that the documentation of this technique and the resulting insights will offer important guidance for managers as coaches and internal and external career coaches, as well as providing positive and relatable narrative resources for ADHD adults. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:55:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6d6db2131642480eab527add7ba0f0f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2205-2062 2205-149X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:55:23Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Emerald Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Work-Applied Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-6d6db2131642480eab527add7ba0f0f92024-04-12T06:54:34ZengEmerald PublishingJournal of Work-Applied Management2205-20622205-149X2024-04-0116111212610.1108/JWAM-05-2023-0048Paradoxical career strengths and successes of ADHD adults: an evolving narrativeTamsin Crook0Almuth McDowall1School of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck University of London, London, UKSchool of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck University of London, London, UKPurpose – Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neuro-developmental condition that has frequently been pathologised in career research and broader society to date. The study seeks to reframe such assumptions through a qualitative positive-focused exploration of career stories of ADHD adults, elicited through a strength-focused technique with wide applicability for coaching and other career-based development activities. Design/methodology/approach – Situated in a strength-focused coaching psychology paradigm, the authors undertook semi-structured interviews with 17 participants, using an adapted feedforward interview technique (FFI) rooted in positive psychology (PP), to investigate individuals' strengths and successful career experiences. Findings – Narrative thematic analysis of the transcripts identified two core themes: “the paradoxical nature of strengths” and “career success as an evolving narrative”. The participants described how they have achieved career success both “in spite of” and “because of” ADHD. The use of the FFI demonstrated a helpful and easily taught method for eliciting personal narratives of success and strengths, an essential foundation to any coaching process. Originality/value – This research provides a nuanced overview, and an associated conceptual model, of how adults with ADHD perceive their career-based strengths and experiences of success. Further, the research shows the value of using a positive psychological coaching approach when working with neurominority individuals, using a successful adaptation of the FFI. The authors hope that the documentation of this technique and the resulting insights will offer important guidance for managers as coaches and internal and external career coaches, as well as providing positive and relatable narrative resources for ADHD adults.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JWAM-05-2023-0048/full/pdfAdult ADHDADHD careersCareer strengthsCareer successPositive psychologyFeedforward interview |
| spellingShingle | Tamsin Crook Almuth McDowall Paradoxical career strengths and successes of ADHD adults: an evolving narrative Journal of Work-Applied Management Adult ADHD ADHD careers Career strengths Career success Positive psychology Feedforward interview |
| title | Paradoxical career strengths and successes of ADHD adults: an evolving narrative |
| title_full | Paradoxical career strengths and successes of ADHD adults: an evolving narrative |
| title_fullStr | Paradoxical career strengths and successes of ADHD adults: an evolving narrative |
| title_full_unstemmed | Paradoxical career strengths and successes of ADHD adults: an evolving narrative |
| title_short | Paradoxical career strengths and successes of ADHD adults: an evolving narrative |
| title_sort | paradoxical career strengths and successes of adhd adults an evolving narrative |
| topic | Adult ADHD ADHD careers Career strengths Career success Positive psychology Feedforward interview |
| url | https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JWAM-05-2023-0048/full/pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tamsincrook paradoxicalcareerstrengthsandsuccessesofadhdadultsanevolvingnarrative AT almuthmcdowall paradoxicalcareerstrengthsandsuccessesofadhdadultsanevolvingnarrative |