ADHD Executive Coaching

Your ADHD Isn’t the Problem. Your Coaching Hasn’t Caught Up Yet.

I’m Cherie Silas – an MCC-credentialed executive coach who navigates ADHD myself. I work with senior leaders who are tired of generic advice that wasn’t designed for how they think.

ICF MCC – Top 5% of Coaches
📋 Lived ADHD Experience
👥 9 Credentialed Coaches
📍 Dallas, TX & Virtual Nationwide

Sound Familiar?

Cherie Silas, MCC

I hear variations of these from nearly every executive I work with. If you recognize yourself in even two or three, you’re in the right place.

— Cherie Silas, MCC

“I have brilliant ideas but can’t execute them consistently.”

Working memory and follow-through challenges – the gap between vision and completion.

“I overcommit, then burn out trying to deliver.”

Difficulty setting boundaries and managing energy – saying yes feels easier than saying no.

“Meetings drain me, and I forget half of what was discussed.”

Meeting fatigue and retention challenges – information slips through the cracks.

“I know I need to delegate but can’t let go of control.”

Delegation anxiety and perfectionism – if it has to be right, it has to be you.

“Feedback hits differently for me – even when it’s constructive.”

Rejection sensitivity – emotional responses that feel disproportionate to the situation.

“I’m successful by any measure, but I feel like I’m barely holding it together.”

The hidden struggle – high performance on the outside, constant effort on the inside.

If you’re nodding at more than one of these, you’re not alone – and you’re not broken. These are patterns I know well, and they respond to the right kind of coaching.

Your ADHD Is a Leadership Asset – When You Know How to Work With It

Most coaching and management advice was designed for neurotypical brains. It assumes linear focus, consistent energy, and predictable workflows. If that’s not how your brain works, the advice doesn’t fail because you’re failing – it fails because it wasn’t built for you.

I’ve watched executives with ADHD outperform their neurotypical peers in crisis situations, creative problem-solving, and strategic vision – then struggle with the routine execution that makes those wins sustainable. The traits that drive your best work are the same ones that create your biggest frustrations.

The goal isn’t to suppress your ADHD. It’s to build systems that channel it intentionally – so your strengths show up consistently, not just in bursts.

The ADHD Leadership Reframe

Hyperfocus Deep strategic thinking
Rapid ideation Innovation & problem-solving
Crisis performance Calm under pressure
Pattern recognition Seeing connections others miss
Energy surges High-impact sprints when channeled

What you need isn’t someone who treats your ADHD as a diagnosis to manage. You need a coach who understands executive function from the inside – and knows how to build strategies that work with your brain, not against it.

Read more: Executive Function Strategies for ADHD Leaders →

Credentialed Coaching. Lived Understanding.

Cherie Silas, MCC – ADHD Executive Coach
ICF MCC CEC

Cherie Silas, MCC

Founder & Lead ADHD Executive Coach

I spent 15 years as an executive – developer to director to CEO. I also have ADHD. That combination means I don’t just understand your challenges theoretically – I’ve built the systems I’m going to help you build, because I needed them myself.

When I became the first agile coach to earn MCC – the highest credential from the International Coaching Federation, held by fewer than 5% of coaches worldwide – I brought that same structured, evidence-based approach to how neurodivergent leaders actually think and work.

15+ Years executive leadership
5,000+ Coaching hours
MCC First agile coach to earn it

A Team, Not a Solo Practice

Cherie leads our ADHD coaching practice, backed by a team of 9 ICF-credentialed coaches across executive, leadership, and team coaching. We match you with the coach whose experience aligns with your industry and challenges.

Meet the full team →

Structured Assessment Tools

We use ProfileXT, Genos EQ, 360-degree feedback, and LEAD NOW! – adapted for neurodivergent leaders. These aren’t generic personality tests. They create baseline data we use to measure real progress.

Learn about our ASPIRE® framework →

What ADHD Executive Coaching Actually Looks Like

1

Discovery Conversation Free

We talk about what’s happening, what you’ve tried, and whether coaching is the right fit. No pitch. No pressure. If it’s not right, I’ll tell you.

2

Assessment & Baseline

We run assessments – ProfileXT, Genos EQ, 360-degree feedback – to establish where you are, not where we assume you are. This becomes the benchmark we measure against.

3

Structured Coaching Sessions

Sessions are designed for ADHD brains: strategies you can implement the same week – not vague homework.

4

Progress Checkpoints

Every 4 months we reassess against your baseline. You see the data. We adjust the plan based on what’s working and what isn’t. This is how we achieve goals that stick.

Engagement Details

Duration

6–12 months

Sessions

Bi-weekly, 60 minutes

Format

Virtual or in-person

Assessments

ProfileXT, Genos EQ, 360° feedback

🎓

Included: Access to our Executive Learning Portal and the ADHD Executive Advantage course – on-demand resources to reinforce strategies and build new habits at your own pace.

Every engagement follows our ASPIRE® framework: Assess, Strategize, Plan, Inspire, Reflect, Evolve – adapted for how neurodivergent leaders actually process and develop.

Learn about ASPIRE® →

What Changes When the Coaching Fits

18/19
Studies show significant improvement
in executive functioning after coaching
788%
Average ROI on executive
coaching engagements
21%
Of managers self-report
ADHD traits
Case Study

The CFO Who Couldn’t Finish What She Started

Challenge

Senior finance executive, 8 years in role. Brilliant strategic thinker but chronic project abandonment – 12 active initiatives, none past 60% completion. Board starting to question her execution capability.

What We Worked On

Working memory systems for tracking priorities. A delegation framework that played to her team’s strengths. Energy management strategies to prevent the “all-in then crash” cycle.

Project completion rate improved from 40% to 85% within 9 months. Board feedback shifted from “great ideas, poor follow-through” to “the most reliable executive in our C-suite.”

12-month engagement

Case Study

The Tech VP Who Couldn’t Stop Working

Challenge

VP of Engineering at a growth-stage company. Averaging 70-hour weeks. Couldn’t delegate without micromanaging. Team turnover at 35% annually. Privately diagnosed with ADHD at 42 – hadn’t told anyone at work.

What We Worked On

Disclosure decision framework. Delegation confidence building with graduated handoffs. Meeting structure redesign to play to ADHD strengths – shorter, standing, agenda-driven.

Work hours dropped to 50/week. Team turnover fell to 12%. Disclosed ADHD to his COO on his own terms – received support, not judgment. Promoted to SVP 14 months into coaching.

18-month engagement

Research data from ICF Global Coaching Study, Manchester Inc., and peer-reviewed ADHD coaching literature. Case studies are composite examples based on typical client outcomes.

Questions About ADHD Executive Coaching

How is ADHD executive coaching different from regular executive coaching?

ADHD executive coaching accounts for how your brain processes information, manages time, and sustains attention. Generic coaching assumes neurotypical executive function. We adapt session structure (written recaps, shorter accountability check-ins), strategy design (energy-based planning vs. time-based planning), and assessment interpretation for neurodivergent patterns.

The coaching process and goals are the same – better leadership, stronger teams, measurable professional success – but the approach is personalized for how you actually think and work.

Read more: ADHD Coaching for Executive Success →

Do I need an ADHD diagnosis to work with you?

No. Many adults with ADHD self-identify without a formal diagnosis. If you recognize the patterns described on this page, coaching can help whether or not you have paperwork. We are coaches, not clinicians – we work with how you think and lead, not with diagnostic labels.

Will my employer know I’m getting ADHD coaching?

Only if you choose to tell them. Our coaching engagements are confidential. Many of our clients are sponsored by their organization for “executive coaching” without specifying the ADHD focus. Others engage privately. We support whatever level of disclosure you’re comfortable with.

Read more: Disclosure & Accommodation Guide for ADHD Executives →

What does a typical coaching session look like?

60 minutes, bi-weekly, virtual or in-person. We review progress on action items, work through a current challenge, and set concrete strategies for the next two weeks. Sessions are designed for ADHD brains: structured but flexible, concrete but not rigid.

Read more: Coaching Session Blueprints →

How long does the coaching engagement last?

Most engagements run 6 to 12 months. That’s enough time for genuine behavior change – not just awareness, but new habits that hold under pressure. Some executives continue beyond the initial engagement for ongoing accountability and support.

How much does ADHD executive coaching cost?

Engagements typically range from $15,000 to $50,000+ depending on scope, duration, and the level of assessment included. We design the engagement to fit your goals and budget. Schedule a conversation to discuss what makes sense for your situation.

What qualifications do your ADHD coaches have?

Our ADHD coaching practice is led by Cherie Silas, MCC – the highest credential from the International Coaching Federation (ICF), held by fewer than 5% of coaches worldwide. Cherie has 5,000+ hours of coaching experience and navigates ADHD herself. Our team includes 9 ICF-credentialed coaches across executive, leadership, and team coaching.

Can coaching help with ADHD and leadership at the same time?

Yes – in fact, they’re inseparable. ADHD shapes how you lead: how you make decisions, manage time, run meetings, delegate, communicate, and manage energy. We don’t coach ADHD and leadership as separate tracks. We coach you as a leader whose brain works differently, and we build skills and strategies that leverage both.

Read more: Leading with ADHD – Executive Coaching Strategies →

Have a question that’s not answered here?

Get in Touch →

Understanding ADHD Executive Coaching

If you’re evaluating coaching for the first time – or comparing your options – here’s what matters.

What Is ADHD Executive Coaching?

ADHD executive coaching is a structured development partnership between a credentialed coach and a senior leader with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Unlike general productivity coaching, it addresses the specific executive function challenges that shape how neurodivergent leaders think, decide, and perform – working memory, time management, sustained focus, and emotional regulation.

The goal isn’t to “fix” ADHD. It’s to build personalized systems and strategies that turn ADHD traits into consistent leadership strengths – so you achieve your professional goals without burning out.

Read more: ADHD Coaching for Executive & Professional Success →

ADHD Executive Coaching vs. General Executive Coaching

General executive coaching assumes neurotypical executive functioning – linear planning, consistent energy, predictable attention. For leaders with ADHD, that assumption creates a mismatch. Strategies that work for neurotypical executives often fail or backfire for neurodivergent ones.

ADHD executive coaching adapts the approach: sessions include written recaps (because working memory is unreliable), strategies are energy-based rather than time-based (because willpower fluctuates), and progress is measured against baselines that account for ADHD patterns. The goals are the same – better leadership, stronger results – but the path gets there differently.

Learn about our Executive Coaching for Leaders →

ADHD Executive Coaching vs. Therapy

Coaching and therapy serve different purposes. Therapy is clinically focused – it processes past experiences, manages symptoms, and addresses mental health conditions. Coaching is forward-looking and performance-focused – it develops skills, builds habits, and achieves specific professional goals.

We are not therapists and we don’t diagnose or treat ADHD. We work with leaders who already know how their brain works (or suspect it) and want to develop strategies for executive-level performance. Many of our clients work with both a therapist and a coach – they complement each other.

Signs You Might Benefit from ADHD Executive Coaching

You don’t need a diagnosis to benefit from coaching that accounts for neurodivergent thinking. Consider it if you experience chronic overwhelm despite competence, difficulty with follow-through on projects you care about, meeting fatigue and retention challenges, delegation anxiety or perfectionism, sensitivity to feedback, or inconsistent energy patterns that don’t match traditional productivity advice.

These patterns are common among high-achieving adults with ADHD. They don’t mean you’re failing – they mean your brain works differently, and your support system should reflect that.

Read more: ADHD Workplace Myths & Reality →

ADHD Coaching for Executives in Dallas, Texas

Tandem Coaching is based in Dallas, TX. We offer both in-person and virtual ADHD executive coaching sessions, serving leaders across the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, throughout Texas, and nationwide. Our virtual coaching platform provides the same structured experience as in-person sessions – with the flexibility that works best for busy executives.

Whether you’re a local executive looking for an ADHD coach in Dallas or a remote leader seeking a specialist, we’ll match you with the right coach for your situation.

Ready to Work With a Coach Who Gets It?

Schedule a 30-minute discovery call. No sales pitch – just an honest conversation about what you’re dealing with and whether coaching is the right next step. Everything we discuss stays between us.

Not ready to talk yet? Explore our ADHD coaching articles – 23 guides written for executives navigating ADHD in leadership roles.

All coaching engagements are confidential. We never disclose to employers, HR, or anyone else without your explicit consent.