How to Stop People Pleasing and Manage ADHD Rejection Sensitivity at Work

Welcome back to ADHD-ish! In today's episode, I sit down with my friend, author, writer, and ADHD coach, Dave Greenwood, for another honest, thought-provoking conversation—this time exploring the powerful lessons of The Courage to Be Disliked, a book rooted in the teachings of 19th-century psychotherapist Alfred Adler. While not specifically an ADHD book, Dave shares how this book packs a punch of wisdom, challenging beliefs around people-pleasing and how ADHD rejection sensitivity at work connects to ADHD burnout and our endless need for approval.

We tackle the tricky balance between accepting yourself as you are and believing you can change, as well as the incredible (if not a little controversial) freedom that comes with having the courage to be disliked. If you've ever found yourself spiraling over a colleague's tone in Slack or questioning whether your boss thinks you're incompetent, this conversation about ADHD rejection sensitivity will hit different.

Top 3 takeaways for anyone navigating work or life with ADHD (or just being human):

• You are not responsible for how others feel. Adler’s “separation of tasks” is a game-changer—do your part authentically, but let go of trying to control what others think or feel about you.
• You can change—if you want to. It’s easy to blame your ADHD or circumstances (hello, fixed mindset!), but the real magic starts when you open yourself to possibility, even if change is slow and non-linear.
• All problems are (ultimately) relational. Whether you’re late to a meeting or starting a business,  our challenges almost always revolve around other humans. Building healthier boundaries and self-acceptance opens the door to genuine connection—and some serious peace of mind.

Dave Greenwood is a repeat guest and friend of the ADHD-ish podcast, known for his authenticity and sense of humor. He is the host of the Overcoming Distractions podcast and author of two popular books on living with ADHD. Though Dave jokingly calls himself a “welding school flunk-out,” he brings a wealth of lived experience, professional insight, and a pragmatic approach to living well with ADHD, especially for the self-employed

🎙️Mic Drop Moment:

Whether it’s with your boss, your partner, your clients, or even your business software (yes, really), most of our challenges come down to relationships - with others and ourselves. Listen for insights on how “people-pleasing,” unhelpful narratives, and unresolved childhood scars shape our work and our lives.

Next steps:

• Buy The Courage to Be Disliked audiobook 
• Listen to the other podcast episodes that complement this one (links below) 
• Schedule a consultation to work with Dave Greenwood or Diann Wingert 

Mentioned in this episode: