ADHD on the Tools: Practical Strategies from a Tradie with ADHD (and What Employers Can Learn)
What helps when your job involves reading plans, measuring accurately, managing tools, working safely and constantly moving between tasks? Australian tradie Martin shares the practical strategies that work for him.
ADHD at work doesn't only happen behind a desk.
For people working in the trades, challenges with things like organisation, working memory, focus and multi-step instructions can play out very differently on the job.
I spoke with Martin, an experienced fitter and turner, boilermaker and steel worker, about the simple systems he's developed to work more efficiently and confidently — and what employers can learn from them.
About Martin
Martin is an Australian tradie who generously shared his lived experience for this article. Across his career as a fitter and turner, boilermaker and steel worker, he's developed practical systems that help him navigate the demands of working on the tools.
I've added my workplace perspective throughout, drawing on my experience supporting employees and employers with ADHD at work.
What helps you perform at your best?
Clarity.
Knowing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing makes a huge difference.
Being organised also keeps me efficient.
What practical strategies genuinely help on site?
Using Colour to Reduce Confusion
I always carry one of those four-colour pens.
When I'm working from drawings I can use different colours for measurements, notes and changes.
It makes everything much easier to understand.
Creating a Mobile Workstation
I have my own folding Bunnings table.
It goes wherever I go. My plans and tools stay on the table so everything has its place.
I also have set zones for my tools. Measuring equipment goes on the left, spanners and sockets on the inner left, clamping and gripping tools on the inner right, and hitting tools like hammers, punches and chisels on the right.
It doesn't have to go back in the exact same spot every time. As long as it's in the right zone, I can find what I need efficiently without having to remember exactly where I put it.
Taking Intentional Brain Breaks
After about fifteen minutes of really concentrating I need a short brain break.
I might check the weather or the rain radar.
The important thing is not getting stuck scrolling social media.
It's just enough to reset my brain before getting back into it.
Processing Before Starting
Sometimes I need a moment to process a task before I begin.
It can probably look like I'm standing there doing nothing.
But I'm actually breaking the job down step by step in my head.
Once I've done that, I usually finish the job faster.
Writing Everything Down
If someone shows me how to do something, I write it down immediately.
I like creating step-by-step instructions.
Writing helps me remember every stage.
What do you wish more employers understood?
Written instructions really help.
When you've got clarity and you're organised, you're far more efficient.
We also have good ideas.
People with ADHD are problem-solvers.
Employers should listen more because sometimes we find more efficient ways of doing things.
Feedback Matters Too
I also wish managers understood how important feedback is.
Don't only tell us what we've done wrong.
Tell us what we've done well too.
Final Thoughts
Speaking with Martin reinforced something I see regularly through my work.
Employees with ADHD rarely need people to lower expectations. They need workplaces that communicate clearly, remove unnecessary friction and recognise that different people perform at their best in different ways.
Small changes — like written instructions, clearer communication, practical organisation systems and collaborative leadership — can make an enormous difference.
When employees understand how they work best, and employers understand how to better support them, everyone benefits.
Common Questions About ADHD in the Trades
What can ADHD look like for a tradie at work?
It varies from person to person, but ADHD may affect organisation, working memory, concentration, prioritising tasks or processing verbal information. It can also come with strengths such as creative thinking, practical problem-solving and finding different ways to approach a task.
What practical strategies can help tradies with ADHD?
Useful strategies may include colour-coding information, creating consistent zones for tools, writing instructions down step by step, taking short intentional breaks and allowing time to mentally process a task before starting.
How can employers better support employees with ADHD?
Clear expectations, written instructions, organised workflows, constructive feedback and asking the employee what helps them work effectively are useful starting points. Support should be tailored to the individual, their role and the barriers they experience.
Need Practical Workplace ADHD Support?
If you're a tradie, apprentice or employee with ADHD who's finding work more difficult than it needs to be, I provide practical 1:1 workplace support tailored to your role.
This can include practical strategies, workplace systems, communication support and help navigating barriers at work.
Eligible employees may also be able to access funding towards this support through the Australian Government Employment Assistance Fund (EAF).
Book a free 15-minute call to talk through what's happening at work and whether EAF-funded support may be an option for you.
Book a FREE 15-Minute ADHD at Work + Funding CallOnline and phone support Australia-wide.
