Can workplace coaching help ADHD professionals remember tasks?

PostedNovember 18, 2025

UpdatedNovember 18, 2025

ByMy Patient Advice

Author: Phoebe Carter, MSc | Reviewed by: Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

For professionals with ADHD, remembering tasks isn’t about caring less; it’s about how the brain processes information. According to NHS guidance on ADHD in the workplace (2024), executive dysfunction, working memory deficits, and time-blindness are core neurological features that make recall and follow-through difficult. Coaching and structured psychological support can change how those challenges play out at work.

Why ADHD makes remembering tasks harder

The Royal College of Psychiatrists (2023) explains that adults with ADHD often struggle with prospective memory, remembering to remember. Even when motivation is high, attention can shift quickly, leading to missed steps or follow-ups. Over time, this can cause frustration, shame, and dips into confidence.

The NICE Guideline NG87 (2023 update) recommend coaching, CBT, and psychoeducation as practical interventions for these challenges. These structured approaches don’t just teach strategies, they help individuals understand their thinking patterns and build systems that support recall, motivation, and consistency.

What the research shows

A 2023 study in Frontiers in Psychology found that ADHD-specific workplace coaching improved task memory, follow-through, and emotional regulation, while reducing shame and perfectionism. Participants who used visual planners, digital reminders, and regular check-ins achieved better task completion and confidence at work.

Likewise, a Lancet Psychiatry review (2022) confirmed that coaching, CBT, and environmental supports help adults with ADHD manage memory challenges, reduce workplace distress, and maintain consistency in high-pressure roles. Coaching was particularly effective for improving reliability and self-efficacy.

How coaching supports task recall

NHS and RCPsych guidance recommend ADHD coaching as a practical, skills-based partnership that builds lasting strategies for recall and focus:

Chunking complex tasks: Breaking projects into clear, manageable steps.

Using reminders and automation: Setting alarms, calendar alerts, or digital prompts.

Accountability systems: Regular coaching or peer check-ins for consistency.

Building emotional awareness: Managing perfectionism and self-blame that lead to task avoidance.

Promoting self-compassion: Reframing forgetfulness as neurological, not moral.

Private services such as ADHD Certify offer structured coaching that helps professionals implement these tools to build confidence and sustain productivity.

The takeaway

Coaching doesn’t just help ADHD professionals remember tasks; it gives them structure, accountability, and self-understanding. With evidence-based systems and compassionate guidance, adults with ADHD can transform forgetfulness into reliability and confidence at work.

Phoebe Carter, MSc

Author

Phoebe Carter is a clinical psychologist with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and a Bachelor’s in Applied Psychology. She has experience working with both children and adults, conducting psychological assessments, developing individualized treatment plans, and delivering evidence-based therapies. Phoebe specialises in neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, and learning disabilities, as well as mood, anxiety, psychotic, and personality disorders. She is skilled in CBT, behaviour modification, ABA, and motivational interviewing, and is dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based mental health care to individuals of all ages.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the author's privacy.

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Reviewer

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez is a UK-trained physician with an MBBS and experience in general surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, gynecology, intensive care, and emergency medicine. She has managed critically ill patients, stabilised acute trauma cases, and provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. In psychiatry, Dr. Fernandez has worked with psychotic, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, applying evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based therapies. Her skills span patient assessment, treatment planning, and the integration of digital health solutions to support mental well-being.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the reviewer's privacy.