You Can’t See It, But It’s Running the Show: Why Executive Functioning Matters

We talk a lot about productivity, performance, and leadership in the modern workplace. But there’s a critical piece of the puzzle that often gets overlooked: executive functioning.

Executive functioning describes a set of cognitive processes and mental skills that enable us to plan, focus, remember instructions, manage emotions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully. These aren’t just useful in leadership or high-performance roles; they’re essential. Every day.

So why aren’t we talking about them more openly?

Executive Functioning in Action

Think of executive functions as the CEO of your brain. These skills allow us to:

• Stay on task even when distractions pop up
• Regulate our emotions during high-stress moments
• Plan and prioritise in fast-paced environments
• Shift gears when things change unexpectedly
• Follow through on goals, even without external motivation

According to Harvard’s Centre on the Developing Child, executive functions are the foundation for adaptive, goal-directed behaviour. And yet, in most workplaces, we assume that everyone has the same capacity in this area. However, due to the growing body of evidence in neurological processing and related conditions, we know that this is definitely not the case. 

Not Everyone has the Same Executive Skills Profile

Just as we all have physical strengths and vulnerabilities, we each have a unique executive functioning profile. Some people excel at big-picture planning but struggle with time blindness. Others might be laser-focused under pressure but overwhelmed by constant task switching.

These differences are natural. They don’t necessarily signal a diagnosis like ADHD, but they absolutely affect how people show up at work.

Understanding this nuance is key to:

• Building psychologically safe teams
• Leading with empathy and insight
• Supporting inclusion in meaningful ways

Dopamine for Dummies: Why Brain Chemistry Matters

At the heart of executive functioning is a powerful little neurotransmitter: dopamine.

Dopamine plays a key role in:

• Motivation and reward
• Focus and attention
• Emotional regulation
• Task initiation and completion

But in an ADHD-wired brain, dopamine signalling is often disrupted. This doesn’t mean there’s “less dopamine”; it means the brain has trouble using it efficiently. The result?

• Difficulty getting started (even on important tasks)
• Inconsistent focus (hyper-focused one moment, distracted the next)
• Poor impulse control and emotional regulation
• Low motivation without immediate rewards

This isn’t laziness. It’s biology.

The symptoms we often label as "disorganised", "distracted", or "unmotivated" are often just the visible side effects of a brain struggling to access and regulate dopamine. When we understand this, we can move from judgment to strategy. This is where workplace transformation begins.

What Happens When Executive Functioning Challenges Go Unrecognised?

When these challenges are misunderstood, the fallout in the workplace can look like:

• Talented employees hiding their struggles
• Managers misinterpreting behaviour as a lack of care
• High-performing individuals burning out from masking or overcompensation

And because ADHD and other executive functioning differences are often invisible, these employees are vulnerable to being misjudged, overlooked, or pushed out, despite their potential.

Why This Matters for HR, Leaders & Workplace Culture

Whether you're managing performance, leading teams, or developing future leaders, understanding executive functioning is no longer optional.

When you lead with insight instead of assumption:

• You retain brilliant, but misunderstood team members
• You reduce presenteeism and burnout
• You foster true psychological safety
• You support innovation and inclusion in action, not just intention

The great news for organisations is that these benefits aren’t just anecdotal. When workplaces adapt communication, offer flexibility, and use strengths-based leadership, productivity and innovation rise for everyone, not just neurodivergent thinkers (Austin & Pisano, 2017).

What I Want You to Consider

If someone on your team seems disorganised, easily overwhelmed, or "inconsistent", it might not be a performance issue. It could be executive dysfunction.

And if you’re a professional experiencing these challenges yourself, learning more about your own unique executive functioning profile could be the missing piece of the puzzle you have been trying to solve. The more we understand about how the brain works, the more powerful and supportive our workplaces can become.

Executive functioning isn’t about whether someone can succeed. It’s about how they are wired to succeed.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could build workplace systems that support that, together?

Warmly,

Caroline x

References:

• Barkley, R. A. (2012). Executive Functions: What They Are, How They Work, and Why They Evolved. Guilford Press.
• Harvard University, Centre on the Developing Child: https://developingchild.harvard.edu
• Austin, R. D., & Pisano, G. P. (2017). Neurodiversity as a Competitive Advantage. Harvard Business Review. Link
• Volkow, N. D., Wang, G. J., et al. (2009). ADHD and Dopamine Dysregulation: The Role of the Dopamine Transporter. JAMA Psychiatry.