ADHD Work Techniques: Basics
Creating Procedure Manuals
This is a work technique for people who often make mistakes because their priorities get mixed up.
Create a procedure manual for every task.
This is the absolute basic.
Step 1. Name and write down your tasks
Presentation → Create presentation materials, submit
Article creation → Create interview article for company website
Submit weekly report → Submit weekly report to department manager
First, verbalize the things you feel you need to do that are floating in your head to reduce anxiety and stress.
That alone will create a sense of relief.
Step 2. Write down the steps for the task
A rough, personal procedure is sufficient.
If it's wrong, you can just change it later.
Example: Create and submit presentation materials
・Create draft
・Request check from supervisor
・Receive check results from supervisor
・Request design check from colleague
・Receive check results from colleague
・Submit to supervisor
Step 3. Consider who should do it
Once you have written down the steps, clarify who will perform them.
Clarify whether it is a task you will advance or a task someone else will advance.
Example: Create and submit presentation materials
・Create draft
・Request check from supervisor
・Receive check results from supervisor
・Request design check from colleague
・Receive check results from colleague
・Submit to supervisor
Step 4. Set tentative deadlines for tasks and procedures
Next, set deadlines.
Set your own dates or times as deadlines for the entire task and for each individual step.
5/16
Example: Create and submit presentation materials
・5/11 Create draft
・5/15 Request check from supervisor
・5/15 Receive check results from supervisor
・5/15 Request design check from colleague
・5/16 Receive check results from colleague
・5/16 Submit to supervisor
Step 5. Focus only on the first step
Finally, make only the "first step" visible.
This clarifies "what I should do now" and "what I should do next."
5/16
Example: Creating and submitting presentation materials
・5/11 Create draft
・5/15 Request check from supervisor
・5/15 Receive check results from supervisor
・5/15 Request design check from colleague
・5/16 Receive check results from colleague
・5/16 Submit to supervisor
To summarize:
1. Name and write down the task
2. Add steps
3. Clarify who should do it
4. Set a tentative deadline
5. Focus only on the first step
That is all.
That concludes this section.