What is Executive Functioning?
“When you press the pause button on a machine, it stops. But when you press the pause button on human beings, they start.” Dov Seidman
Your Brain’s Mental Crew
Executive functioning is like the captain of your brain’s crew. It is the set of skills that helps you steer through daily life, make decisions, stay on course, and adjust when storms appear.
Your mental crew includes abilities such as:
Planning and organising
Focusing attention
Regulating emotions
Remembering information
Following through on tasks
When the captain is present and guiding, the crew can work together smoothly. At the heart of executive function is the ability to pause before reacting. That pause gives the captain time to direct the crew so your actions align with your goals and values.
The human brain is extraordinary. It lets us plan, focus, manage emotions, and act with purpose — even in the middle of chaos.
Why is Executive Functioning Important?
For many with neurodivergent brains, including ADHDers, the captain and crew do not always work in sync. The ship can drift when procrastination takes over, time management feels impossible, memory slips, emotions run high, or follow-through is difficult.
This does not mean something is broken. It means your brain may need support, strategies, or a different way of working.
Are Executive Function skills set in stone?
Just as our brains shape us, we can shape our brains.
There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating that the human brain has a remarkable ability to adapt and change. Once we understand ourselves better, we can work through ways to strengthen our executive function skills and make navigating life easier.
How can coaching help with Executive Functioning?
Coaching is not about being told what to do. It is about having space to pause, be heard, and explore what gets in the way of your crew working together. Sometimes, simply being truly listened to is the first step to regaining a sense of direction.
Coaching can help you:
Make sense of how your brain works and how executive function shows up in daily life
Recognise your strengths while working with the areas that feel harder to harness
Strengthen executive function skills with practical strategies you can rotate and adapt as life changes
Some tools may work for a while and then stop working. That is normal. Coaching helps you build flexibility so your toolbox grows with you, and your captain always has options to steer the ship without the pressure of there being only one right way.
Find out more about how I can support you in this area:
A person with ADHD has the power of a Ferrari engine but with bicycle-strength breaks. It’s the mismatch of engine power to braking capability that causes the problems. Strengthening one’s brakes is the name of the game.
ADHD 2.0
