Do you have trouble staying focused while you are on the phone or work with clients or employees who seems to lose focus? ADHD causes very real and sometimes significant challenges when trying to focus during a phone call. This is especially true for people who work virtually or in a different location from their boss.
I shared my 6 top tips on a recent episode of the Practical ADHD Strategies radio show. The tips are listed below, and you can listen to the 15 minute show here for more details: Practical ADHD Strategies.
- Determine how long you can effectively focus during a phone call. Not sure? Experiment! 15 minutes might be perfect for one person and 45 minutes could be the best option for the next person. What works best for you?
- Go to a place without distractions during phone calls. Conference rooms, dining rooms and quiet hallways are all options. Where is the most quiet place in your work location?
- Close your computer when you are having a phone call. If you need the computer during phone call, close all unnecessary programs… especially email and internet browsing.
- If you tend to be distracted and lose focus during phone calls, think about ways you can use written communication to stay focused. Can you text that update to your Virtual Assistant? Can you send your boss a quick status update by email?
- Ask your employee or client with ADHD about their personal preferences. What works best for them to stay focused?