Turn ADHD “Too Muchness” into Professional Power
| with guest Dr Alessandra Wall |
Alessandra Wall’s standout strategy is simple but profound: brand your traits.
That means taking the very things you’ve been told to suppress like impulsivity, rapid thinking, directness, emotionality… and positioning them as the strengths they truly are.
“Instead of trying to make myself somebody who complies with everybody else’s rules, I’ve basically put out in the world that I am the kind of person who will tell you things other people won’t tell you. I’ll be not brutally but generously candid, open, and honest.”
— Dr Alessandra Wall, ADHDifference
Alessandra describes herself as a “starburst thinker.” One idea sparks a dozen others. Rather than frame that as a lack of focus, she has learned to harness it as creative power. It becomes fuel for vision, innovation, and deep connection.
“In my mind, there’s always possibility. It’s not blind optimism. It’s seeing things that other people don’t necessarily see, because their minds are functioning in a single or maybe triple track.”
Why This Strategy Matters
Too often, ADHDers are taught to manage or minimise their traits in order to survive in traditional environments. But masking takes energy. Trying to blend in keeps us from standing out in the ways that matter most.
By branding your traits, you shift the narrative. You are no longer apologising. You are saying, “This is how I work best. And here’s the value it brings.”
Alessandra’s approach is not about being loud or rebellious. It is about being intentional, consistent, and honest about who you are and allowing that honesty to lead.
When to Use This Strategy
Branding your traits is especially powerful in moments of self-doubt or external criticism. Here are a few entry points:
- When you feel misunderstood at work or in leadership: Instead of shrinking back, get curious. What’s the trait being criticised? How has it helped you in the past?
- When others label you as disorganised, intense, or scattered: Reframe those traits as agility, passion, or expansive thinking. Then say it out loud. That is branding.
- When you are burnt out from masking or people-pleasing: Branding your traits can be a path back to authenticity and ease. You are allowed to show up as you.
- When you are building a personal brand or stepping into visibility: Consider what parts of your neurodivergence you have been hiding and how those same parts could set you apart.
How to Practice This Daily
Alessandra does not just talk strategy. She lives it. Her other go-to tool is something she calls mastering the pause. This means creating short moments of stillness, even two minutes at a time, to regulate your nervous system and reconnect with yourself.
“If sitting for two minutes makes you anxious, that’s your clue that you need it.”
These micro-pauses create space to reflect on what is working, what is draining you, and how you want to respond. It is a grounding practice that supports the bigger work of branding your traits. To stand firm in who you are, you need to stay connected to yourself first.
The Science Behind It
ADHD traits like impulsivity, emotional reactivity, and non-linear thinking are often misunderstood in professional settings. But neuroscience offers a different view.
Divergent thinking, common in ADHD, is linked to enhanced creativity and innovative problem-solving. What looks like distraction may actually be an ability to connect ideas in novel ways.
Emotional intensity, rather than a liability, is a form of heightened sensitivity driven by differences in the brain’s limbic system. With awareness and support, it can translate into empathy, intuition, and strong interpersonal insight.
Impulsivity, when reframed, becomes spontaneity, adaptability, and a bias toward action. These are valuable traits in fast-moving or entrepreneurial environments.
Masking, on the other hand, is cognitively and emotionally draining. Studies show that sustained self-suppression can lead to burnout, anxiety, and a diminished sense of identity.
By branding your traits instead of hiding them, you reduce the cognitive load of masking. You redirect energy toward meaningful self-expression and connection. This kind of reframing supports self-efficacy, confidence, and psychological resilience.
In short, owning your traits does not just feel better. It allows your brain to function more effectively too.
💬 Final Thought
Dr Alessandra Wall reminds us that ADHD traits do not need to be managed, hidden, or fixed. They need to be understood, claimed, and communicated.
Branding your traits is about owning your wiring and giving it a place in your story, your leadership, and your success. When you do that, the world stops seeing you as “too much” and starts recognising you for exactly who you are.