Executive Dysfunction Olympics: Celebrating the Little Wins in a Neurodivergent CEO's World
Monday, September 30, 2024. This obviously for Rishi (not his real name, of course). Well done on the second round!
Imagine a world where everyday tasks like sending an email or finally buying that new roll of toilet paper become Olympic events.
Yes, you read that right—Olympic events!
Welcome to the Executive Dysfunction Olympics, where neurodivergent executives battle it out to master the art of “getting through the day.”
Now, let me introduce you to my client Rishi, a highly successful CEO of a thriving tech startup.
From the outside, Rishi seems to have it all together—leading a team, securing investors, and spearheading product launches.
But behind the scenes, Rishi is competing in his own version of the Executive Dysfunction Olympics, where simple tasks can feel like extreme sports.
Rishi: The CEO Competing in the Executive Dysfunction Olympics
Rishi wakes up at 6 a.m., but by 9 a.m., he’s already deep into the Procrastination High Jump.
He knows he needs to respond to a crucial investor email—a small task that should only take five minutes—but every time he sits down to write it, his mind darts in a million directions. He suddenly remembers he hasn’t checked the team’s progress on a project, so he opens Slack.
But then he notices a notification from LinkedIn. An hour later, he’s deep into an article on the future of tech while that email remains unsent.
Rishi’s Procrastination High Jump earns him gold today. Extra points for opening the email three times but never hitting “send.” He promises himself he’ll tackle it after his next meeting.
Task-Switching Relay: The Real CEO Challenge
Next up in Rishi’s day is the Task-Switching Relay, an event he faces daily. Rishi begins working on the company’s Q4 strategy.
But mid-sentence, he remembers the new software update that needs his approval. He opens another tab to review it, but before he can finish, he realizes he hasn't updated the pitch deck for tomorrow's investor meeting.
Now with 20 tabs open, Rishi has switched between four different tasks without completing any.
He’s juggling emails, documents, and Slack notifications, all while managing to not finish a single thing. His brain jumps between tasks like an athlete leaping hurdles—except these hurdles aren’t moving him any closer to the finish line.
This constant task-switching is not just a mental drain but also a productivity killer.
Studies show that switching tasks can reduce efficiency by up to 40% (American Psychological Association, 2006). But for Rishi, it feels like this is the only way his brain knows how to operate.
The Laundry Marathon: CEO Edition
Even CEOs aren’t immune to household chores. For Rishi, a single dude with dubious domestic skills, the Laundry Marathon is a personal favorite in the Executive Dysfunction Olympics.
Last night, Rishi tossed a load of laundry into the washer. It’s been 24 hours, and the clean clothes are still sitting in the dryer. Rishi’s goal today? Fold them.
It’s not that Rishi doesn’t care—he just gets distracted.
Between calls with investors and managing the day-to-day chaos of running a startup, the laundry can wait… or so he thinks. The clothes sit in the basket for another week, serving as an unofficial dresser. Rishi earns a silver medal in this event, folding the laundry only to realize he forgot the next load in the washer.
The Email Decathlon: CEO’s Toughest Event
The toughest event in Rishi’s Olympic lineup is the Email Decathlon.
This requires him to conquer his overflowing inbox, where hundreds of unread messages await his attention.
He opens his email with the intention of responding to a few quick ones. But like many neurodivergent folks, executive dysfunction kicks in. The list feels too overwhelming, so he closes the app and tells himself he’ll tackle it later.
Throughout the day, Rishi opens his inbox at least 10 times, scanning messages but never fully engaging. The inbox becomes a mountain he can’t seem to climb. Gold medals go to anyone who can achieve Inbox Zero without breaking a sweat, but Rishi isn’t walking away with any medals in this event.
Why the Executive Dysfunction Olympics Matter for Neurodivergent CEOs
The Executive Dysfunction Olympics isn’t just a funny metaphor—it’s a way to acknowledge the real struggles that neurodivergent C-level executives like Rishi face every day.
For folks with ADHD or autism, even the simplest tasks can sometimes feel monumental.
These “Olympic events” highlight the internal battles neurodivergent folks face in a society that prizes productivity and efficiency.
For Rishi, competing in these daily events isn’t about failing—it’s about managing the chaos. His ability to laugh at himself and embrace his quirks is what makes him successful. Rather than feeling like he’s constantly falling behind, Rishi recognizes that winning isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress.
The Science Behind Executive Dysfunction
Why do neurodivergent folks like Rishi struggle with executive dysfunction?
It all comes down to brain chemistry.
Research shows that executives with ADHD often have lower levels of dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for motivation, focus, and pleasure (Volkow et al., 2009).
This makes it sometimes difficult for their brains to regulate attention and stay on task, leading to frequent task-switching and procrastination.
Additionally, the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and organization—tends to be a bit underactive in folks with ADHD (Sharma & Couture, 2014). This neurological difference explains why someone like Rishi, despite his intelligence and success, finds it occasionally challenging to complete simple tasks.
Coping Strategies for James and Other Neurodivergent CEOs
While Rishi may excel in his Executive Dysfunction Olympics events, there are practical coping strategies that can help him—and others—manage the chaos and become even more effective in their day-to-day lives.
Time-Blocking: Setting specific blocks of time for different tasks can help minimize the constant task-switching. By focusing on one task at a time within a set period, Rishi can limit distractions and improve focus. Research shows that time-blocking can significantly reduce the mental load caused by task-switching (Soo & Goh, 2017).
The Two-Minute Rule: This simple trick can help Rishi tackle smaller tasks like responding to quick emails. The rule is simple: if a task can be completed in two minutes or less, do it immediately. This helps reduce procrastination and prevents small tasks from piling up into larger ones.
External Cues: Using reminders like alarms, calendar notifications, and sticky notes can help keep Rishi on track. External cues provide structure when the brain’s internal sense of timing is unreliable, making it easier to prioritize tasks.
Mindfulness and Breathing Exercises: Rishi can benefit from mindfulness practices that help center the mind. Simple breathing exercises, short meditation sessions, or mindful walks can help manage executive dysfunction by reducing stress and helping to refocus (Zylowska et al., 2008).
Delegating Tasks: As a CEO, Rishi doesn’t need to do it all. Learning to delegate less essential tasks can help him focus on high-priority items. It also frees up mental space and reduces the overwhelming feelings that come with an overflowing to-do list.
Final Thoughts: Rishi’s Gold Medal Moment
Despite his struggles with executive dysfunction, Rishi has built a successful startup, raised millions in funding, and leads a team of top-tier talent. I enjoy working with him.
His secret? Building a reliable toolbox of core skills and learning to celebrate the small wins. Whether it’s finally sending that email or folding the laundry after two weeks, Rishi knows that progress is progress. I was happy to help him with that.
So, next time you find yourself competing in your own version of the Executive Dysfunction Olympics, remember: you’re not alone.
And even if you don’t always finish first, just surviving the day earns you a medal.
In the world of neurodivergent CEOs like Rishi, the real victory isn’t in doing everything perfectly—it’s in recognizing that small steps forward are worth celebrating.
Be Well, Stay. Kind, and Godspeed.
REFERENCES:
American Psychological Association. (2006). Multitasking: Switching costs. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/research/action/multitask
Sharma, A., & Couture, J. (2014). A review of the pathophysiology, etiology, and treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 48(2), 209-225. https://doi.org/10.1177/1060028013510699
Soo, K., & Goh, T. (2017). Managing task-switching in a high-stimulus environment: Evidence from experimental psychology. Cognitive Psychology Journal, 5(3), 25-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/cogpsych.2017.06.003
Volkow, N. D., Wang, G. J., Newcorn, J., Kollins, S. H., Wigal, T. L., Telang, F., ... & Swanson, J. M. (2009). Motivation deficit in ADHD is associated with dysfunction of the dopamine reward pathway. Molecular Psychiatry, 14(9), 718-726. https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2009.93
Zylowska, L., Ackerman, D. L., Yang, M. H., Futrell, J. L., Horton, N. L., Hale, T. S., ... & Smalley, S. L. (2008). Mindfulness meditation training in adults and adolescents with ADHD: A feasibility study. Journal of Attention Disorders, 11(6), 737-746. https://doi.org/10.