Driving Results Through Diverse Thinking
Your Pocket Coach Newsletter
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Pocket Coach: Redefining High Achievement Results
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Todays Topic:
Why thinking differently is a skill and a gift.
The Multi-Passionate Leader: Flipping the Narrative on Labels
Dear curious mind,
You ever feel like you’re living in a highlight reel of “too many ideas, too little time”?
Growing up, I was always “the different one.” Immigrant. Rulebreaker. Bouncing between creative bursts and analytical deep dives. Never quite fitting the mold, but always making a mark.
For a long time, I thought something was wrong with me. ADHD? Maybe. Not as smart as others? I wasn’t sure. Then I came across a word that finally made sense—multipotentialite. Suddenly, I had a name for the way my brain worked, why I thrived on exploring new ideas and refusing to settle into just one lane.
Fast-forward to last week—someone told me, “You must have your ADHD so well under control.” I’ll be honest: it stung. Why frame my productivity, my creativity, my way of working as something that needs to be labeled or explained away? More often than not, I’m solving problems faster than anyone else in the room. Maybe you know the feeling.
We live in a world obsessed with categories. Everything (and everyone) must fit into a neat box. We treat labels like answers, but they often create new problems. On one side, people hand out diagnoses with too much confidence. On the other, there’s a dangerous belief that “normal” exists and anything outside of it is a flaw.
Recently, I’ve had more and more clients share their new ADHD diagnoses. When I ask how it makes them feel, more than one has said, “Now I know what’s wrong with me.”
That one sentence says so much: therapists sometimes fail to dismantle the stigma and instead reinforce it. And as a society, we’re still missing the bigger truth:
Our world desperately needs minds that work differently if we want to drive real innovation and create organizations that flourish.
If you’ve ever felt boxed in by labels, if you’ve wondered whether your difference is a deficit, know that you’re not alone. And for many executives, this is precisely why talking about how they think, create, and lead feels so risky.
This week’s newsletter is for the outsiders, the multi-passionates, and all those who are ready to see their differences as the very thing the world needs.
And just to break the stigma around ADHD:
Here are five positive attributes and key stats about ADHD CEOs and leaders:
- Creativity & Innovation
ADHD leaders often generate unique ideas and solutions.
Examples: Richard Branson, Walt Disney. - Resilience & Risk-Taking
They embrace challenges and pursue bold ventures, even after setbacks.
Examples: Bill Gates, David Neeleman (JetBlue). - Hyperfocus & Productivity
They can concentrate deeply on key tasks, driving strong results.
Example: Ingvar Kamprad (IKEA founder). - Energizing Leadership
High energy inspires teams and builds dynamic culture.
Examples: Jenny Dearborn, Richard Branson. - Entrepreneurial Drive
People with ADHD are up to 3x more likely to start businesses.
Survey data show strong links between ADHD and leadership success.
If you relate to being the “different one” or the multi-passionate leader in the room, your ideas and energy are assets—sometimes messy, often brilliant, always worth honoring.
Feel free to email me back or comment on LinkedIn and let’s start the conversation.
See you soon,
Dr. Kinga
“Becoming is better than Being.” – Carol Dweck
Practical Team-Development Tools
Exercise 1: Team Thinking Styles Map
Goal: Make different cognitive styles visible and valuable.
How to do it:
Ask each team member to answer:
➡“Do you naturally lead with vision, structure, creative ideas, or integration?”
List categories on a whiteboard or slide:
Ask each team member to answer:
➡“Do you naturally lead with vision, structure, creative ideas, or integration?”
List categories on a whiteboard or slide:
Visionary
Structured
Creative
Connector
Finisher
Discuss for 5–10 minutes:
What do we notice? What strengths are underused? How do we support each other’s thinking styles?
What do we notice? What strengths are underused? How do we support each other’s thinking styles?
Exercise 2: Flip the Label
Goal: Reframe “too much” traits as superpowers.
How to do it:
Ask everyone:
➡“What’s something you’ve been told is ‘too much’ about you?”
Then ask:
➡“How could that be a strength?”
Ask everyone:
➡“What’s something you’ve been told is ‘too much’ about you?”
Then ask:
➡“How could that be a strength?”
Examples:
“Too scattered” → “I see connections others miss.”
“Too intense” → “I care deeply and lead with passion.”
Quick share-out or post anonymously on sticky notes.
3. Additional Resources:
01
02
Talk Suggestion
How To Approach Self-Development
Harvard Business Review: Do and don’t talk about when it comes to ADHD.
03
Bi-Weekly Book Recommendation
The Courage To Be Disliked
From Chaos to Clarity: The Multi-Passionate Leader’s Guide to Success
Are you enjoying the newsletter? If so, I would love to hear from you what you think about it and what has been helpful so far.
Thanks for your support and ‘see you’ in two weeks!
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