Rebecca WatmoreHave you ever started to make a cup of tea or coffee, only to find yourself doing something completely different? I know I have, especially when I’m waiting for the kettle to boil!
That’s what I call “going on a side quest”!
What if you could cut down on these distractions without constantly battling your own mind?
“Point of Performance” is a strategy that helps you get started and stay on track. It also minimises burnout from the extra effort of going on these “side quests” or constantly trying to fight them.
What is “Point of Performance”?
Let’s break the phrase down to really understand it. “Performance” is the task you are trying to do. “Point” is the exact moment or place where you do it. Meaning “Point of Performance” is essentially where and when action happens.
For many neurodivergent business owners, these moments cause daily friction points which impact the running of their business. It highlights the moment where our good intentions meet our executive function challenges.
The good news is that this concept is not a new TikTok trend. Dr Russell A. Barkley, a clinical psychologist known for his work on ADHD, spoke about this in his 2023 YouTube talk on ADHD and performance. He explains the strategy behind improving your Point of Performance means building the “scaffolding” you need. This can range from keeping all the items needed to complete a task in one place to preparing steps in advance.
Is it just being organised?
Not at all. Point of Performance is ultimately a strategy for efficiency. By design, it focuses on how to optimise a task, so that it can be done quickly and simply. This typically involves finding ways to automate and removing unnecessary steps.
It does take some planning, creative thinking, and regular check-ins, but it’s one of the best hacks I have found! Point of Performance strategies help neurodivergent brains because they reduce the amount of executive function needed. An example is how hotel rooms set up their tea and coffee stations. Everything you need is within arm’s reach. From the kettle to the milk and even the little biscuits.
There are many ways to improve your Point of Performance, and most count as reasonable adjustments. It is easy to forget, but these accommodations aren’t only for our teams. They are essential for us as business owners, too!
How will Point of Performance help my business?
These methods are about making tasks simpler. For example, automating where you can to make fewer steps for you and your team. Once set up properly, it improves productivity and quality for everyone. For an ADHDer or someone with executive function difficulties, particularly, it can even:
- Reduce time lost on side questing
- Improve task initiation
- Help with working memory problems
- Assist with issues caused by object consistency
A powerful bonus is that it makes tasks easier to hand over. New hires or subcontractors can step in and follow the process without needing constant guidance. Meaning fewer interruptions, less stress, and more confidence when you delegate. Which is great for any business.
Of course, the best adjustments depend on the task and the individuals in that role. What can be a barrier for one person might help the other stay focused. So how do we find out what’s really causing the issues?
Finding the Point of Performance friction
The first step is noticing where friction shows up. Some pain points are obvious—the tasks that frustrate you every time. Others are hidden, like jobs you avoid (bookkeeping?) or ones that just feel harder than they should.
The easiest way to spot them is to make notes as you go. If something blocks you or distracts you, write it down. This isn’t about shame—it’s about finding the holes in your workflow so you can make improvements through streamlining and accommodations. Sometimes these are the same thing!
Take order packing as an example. If every time you find yourself hunting for tape, scissors, and labels, that’s a friction point! If this is you, try storing everything you need in one box. Maybe add a checklist or a photo of what it should look like. These things may seem silly, but they are something big businesses do to keep consistency. Any step that eases the demand on your executive function will help you work more efficiently. This process can also be a game-changer for reducing burnout.
Spotting those friction points is the key. Once you’ve identified them, you can begin to design new processes. Without seeing where the friction is, it’s hard to know what the problem is or what solutions you need at that Point of Performance.
Practical examples of Point of Performance adjustments
In business, most tasks fall into one of two categories:
- Physical and in-person tasks
- Digital or online tasks
Thinking about your in-person tasks and workspaces can be easier because you can physically see areas for improvement, even if you don’t know how to improve them yet.
Digital workspaces are convenient, but they can make it harder to spot problems—even though the impact can be just as big.
Here are some brief examples of each, and some ideas of how you can work around common issues.
In-person (physical) tasks
These are hands‑on jobs, like packing online orders. Here, improving your Point of Performance often means creating a dedicated workstation. That could be a fixed spot in your office, or a clear space you transform when needed.
Example: Organising your paper receipts
There always seems to be something that your accountant or bookkeeper needs scanned. Even being a trained bookkeeper, I found I was never very good at scanning my receipts! Knowing what I do know about ADHD and neurodiversity in general, this is how I would start:
- Drop‑off tray: Place a post tray in the spot you already go to when you get in. Such as the hallway sideboard where you keep your empty pockets into the dumping bowl (we all have one, don’t we?)
Every time you come home, the tray will be a visual reminder to pop your receipts in. Receipts that sit in there will also remind you that you haven’t scanned them yet.
- Bookkeeping workstation box: When the tray fills, transfer everything to your bookkeeping box. This should be in a space where you are most likely to do scanning, etc., like your desk. Inside, keep essentials such as:
- Pens and highlighters (to help mark personal vs. business)Scanner and wires for charging phones or connecting to your computer
- Visual timer (for when Pomodoro is needed)
This way, you only move one box to start the task, and everything you need is ready to go. It’s a clear, repeatable process that makes receipts easier to manage. Don’t forget you will need digital records for MTD, which starts in April 2026 for some.
Other examples of business physical tasks include:
- Packing and labelling customer orders
- Restocking shelves or inventory
- Preparing materials for events or workshops
- Filing your printed invoices and receipts
- Assembling products or kits
- Cleaning or resetting a workspace and tools
Digital and online tasks
These are tasks you do on your computer, phone, or tablet. For example, managing emails, handling social media, and downloading invoices. Point of Performance works the same way in your digital workspace; we just apply it to your online tools.
For example, if you’re writing a proposal for a new client, you probably need to look at your CRM, your proposal software, your meeting notes or recordings—like those from Otter AI—and maybe even more.
When these tools aren’t connected, switching between them can cause the same problems as with physical tasks. You might open a new tab and get distracted by a news article, or need a login code and then realise your phone needs charging. And then you have to find the charger…
By using integrations, you can stay in one system and automate parts of your work. At Watmore & Co., we use built-in integrations and Zapier zaps to automate sending proposals. Now, we can send a custom quote about eight minutes after a call ends. We don’t have to set aside extra time to make it, and we spend less time getting sidetracked by switching between apps.
Other typical digital tasks include:
- Responding to emails and messages
- Managing client records or proposals
- Scheduling meetings or calls
- Creating and posting marketing content
- Updating your website or online shop
Not every task can be automated or integrated, but using Point of Performance ideas, you can still create simple, repeatable workflows for digital tasks. These workflows help us reduce the risk of avoiding our tasks and getting distracted.
With Point of Performance, you can keep up with both your physical and digital workflows, helping your business run smoothly. It also makes it less overwhelming to figure out what to do next, how to do it, or what the result should be.
How to measure the effectiveness of adjustments
To see if your Point of Performance changes are working, start by writing down your current process and how well it works. This isn’t meant to make you feel bad—it’s just to set a starting point. That way, you can see your progress and feel good about your success. It also helps you spot quickly if a new process isn’t working, so you can make changes.
Decide how many times you’ll try the new process. After that, look at how well it worked. Even if things don’t get better, that’s still helpful because you know what doesn’t work for you. Testing things in a structured way gives you clear feedback so you can make changes.
Putting it all together
Point of Performance adjustments are simple, repeatable ways to make your work environment easier and more productive if you’re a neurodivergent business owner. Whether you’re packing orders, writing proposals, making a cup of tea, or doing anything else, you deserve a workflow that works for your ADHD brain!
When you keep all the tools and resources for a task in one place and set up clear workflows, you make things easier for yourself. This reduces friction and helps you feel more confident and productive every day.
*This article contains links to tools we recommend, but they aren’t affiliate links.