Good Systems · public information library

What can I do at work to help someone when their attention depends on interest, urgency or novelty?

People come here to understand why something in everyday life feels harder, different or more costly than it should — and what might make it work better.

Short answer

Use interest and urgency carefully: make purpose clear without making panic the workflow.

What this can look like

A task can become easier when its customer or safety purpose is visible, and harder when urgency is the only driver.

Why it can happen

Visible impact, choice and quick feedback can make work easier to enter. Constant crisis deadlines can produce output while exhausting the team.

What might help

Explain the purpose and use staged deadlines, not escalating panic, to create focus.

What the research helps explain

Australian ADHD guidance and international consensus evidence describe ADHD as affecting everyday functioning for some people, including attention, planning, memory, time and follow-through. At work, practical supports and fair design can be useful without identifying anyone as having ADHD.

What can vary

Stress, sleep, health, task design, role clarity and preference can create similar work patterns. Do not diagnose employees, seek private medical information or make support conditional on disclosure.

For this situation

For you, make priorities meaningful and build earlier checkpoints.

More info and original sources

Poko summarises the relevance of public original sources and links out for anyone who wants to read more.