People living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are often prone to restlessness, get easily distracted, and can be impulsive. For leaders who want to remain supportive and get the most out of employees, building a safe and inclusive environment for all should be top of mind.

Skye Waterson, founder of Unconventional Organisation, joins Momentum Media's The HR Leader to share her experiences living with ADHD and discuss how workplaces must be proactive in policies if they’re to remain inclusive.

ADHD is a neurological disorder affecting 6 to 10 per cent of Australian children and adolescents and 2 to 6 per cent of adults, driving home just how common it can be.

Waterson outlines just how beneficial flexible working arrangements can be for employees with ADHD. The pandemic paved the way for these practices, which she says has been extremely helpful in promoting engagement and productivity.

Creating a neurodiverse-friendly environment isn’t just beneficial for the individual. It can help workplaces to unlock their true potential by allowing people to do their best.

However, it isn’t a one-size-fits-all strategy, and care must be taken to consider what that means to each neurodiverse worker. Waterson explains a variety of implementations that can be used to support workers with differences, but providing true comfort requires ears to the ground.

In this episode of the Momentum Media's Defence Connect Podcast, Rockingham City Councillor Peter Hudson joins host Liam Garman to unpack the role of local government in delivering infrastructure needed for AUKUS Pillars I and II.

• Cr Hudson and Garman begin unpacking the infrastructure that is needed to deliver large-ticket defence items, and how Australia needs a national security strategy to ensure a whole-of-nation approach to national security.
• They then discuss what the federal and state governments need to do to deliver Defence capabilities and address the workforce gap.
• The podcast wraps up discussing the rise of China and rising political uncertainty within Australia’s AUKUS allies.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

Supporting productivity that drives growth should be on every leader’s mind; however, with the demands and expectations of the modern workforce and the challenges that come with that, leveraging growth can be difficult.

Helping to demystify these complexities is Damien Andreasen, HiBob’s vice president APJ. In this episode of Momentum Media's The HR Leader, he reflected on his experiences in building high performing work teams, both with his time at HiBob and in previous roles.

Continuous development and upskilling has only become more important as tech advancements are requiring teams to be educated and up-to-date on digitally evolving processes. However, there is a clear opportunity, said Andreasen, as this tech can facilitate effective growth.

Purpose, culture, and engagement are crucial aspects of business that are becoming an increasingly important consideration for candidates. Andreasen noted that these components can and should form the basis to drive performance.

Also discussed was the importance of communication, and how processes can break down when lines of communication aren’t upheld. Andreasen touched on his experiences at both start-ups and large organisations, and how many themes overlap, no matter the size of the company.

For leaders seeking happy, engaged, motivated, and driven employees, a collective vision is essential. That vision needs to be clearly communicated as early as the hiring process in a way that ensures employees feel invested and included.