ADHD in the workplace is often framed as a performance issue — but what if the real problem is job fit?

In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel Lolacher sits down with ADHD career coach Shell Mendelson to unpack why capable, skilled ADHD employees struggle in roles that were never designed for how they think, focus, and work.

Together, they explore why performance improvement plans miss the point, how workplace expectations quietly erode confidence, and why creativity and innovation only show up under the right conditions. This conversation challenges leaders to stop pathologizing behavior and start examining environments — and helps ADHD professionals better understand when a role is working against them.

If you’re a leader trying to support neurodivergent employees, or someone with ADHD questioning whether work “just isn’t clicking,” this episode offers clarity without clichés.

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