“You always make things harder than they need to be” - someone, at some point, probably.

If you’re the kind of person who finds it easier to rearrange a room than just hoover it (me, that’s me), then you’ve probably heard that you make things complicated. While making things easier can look like fewer steps, it doesn’t always…

People only say things are unnecessary if they don’t need those steps to prepare themselves.

If someone doesn’t have any worries about going to a gym, the standard induction feels like a waste of time. For a newcomer who is nervous about walking onto the gym floor, the induction is essential for them using their new membership. They may even ask for some 1:1 sessions with the trainer showing them around - no one is going to say that’s unnecessary just because they don’t need any personal training!

Only you can decide what you need to feel prepared. If you’ve been told you ‘add steps’ or ‘make things more difficult’, then I’ve got some questions for you. Sure, you may do it differently but is that really a problem?

Who defines ‘productive’ and ‘necessary’?

As a society we undervalue thought and emotional labour. If your extra steps allow you to process ideas, manage your emotions, and complete a task to a higher standard then who says they are anything but productive?

When we are shown a task by someone we admire but who works differently to us, we can feel pressure to do things exactly the way they showed us. But your brain is different to theirs, and it’s OK to adapt your process to suit what you need. I’m pretty sure they’ll add steps to other tasks that you don’t need!

What do the extra steps do for you?

Are you getting in the zone? Climbing a Wall of Awful? Or making starting a task feel easier?

If the extra steps do something for you, then are they really extra? Extra steps might include writing things out by hand, taking a break at a set point to think, or setting up your workstation in a very specific way - regardless, if the extra step helps you deliver your work to a higher standard, with more consistency, or in a more rewarding way, then I say crack on.

When an extra step helps you get started, I like to think of it like a catalyst - it lowers the energy you need to get started. For those of us with ADHD, that isn’t an extra, it’s a necessity!

What happens if you can’t do your added steps?

If you can’t produce the same result without the added steps, then they are providing value to you. If you can get ‘good enough’, but you like delivering ‘excellent’ then your extra steps are the seasoning on your work that makes you stand out. Far from a distraction, they are a central feature of working with you!

If you can get by but it just feels wrong, maybe over time you’ll reduce them. But only if you need to for another reason…

Are the extra steps having any negative impacts?

Are your extra steps causing delays? Incurring costs? Or making it difficult for your team?

If so, it’s time to revise your steps. How can you get the benefits you need without the detrimental impacts? To work this out try asking:

1. What does the extra step do for you?

2. How could you create that benefit in a different way? Brainstorm a few options.

3. Trial a new option and ask for feedback until you find a way that works for you and those around you.

How do you approach the extra steps when you delegate tasks?

There are two prongs to this question:

Do you allow people to adapt your extra steps to suit them?

If you are training someone else and explain your extra steps, do you allow them to ask questions and modify the process to suit them?

Do you allow others to use their extra steps?

This mostly applies to tasks that fall outside your area of expertise. Do you allow your freelancers and other supporters to work their way to create the results you’ve asked for?

Are there any tasks you do with an extra step? What does the extra step do for you?