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Adult Checklist for Executive Functions Strengths and Weaknesses

Task initiation

Strengths Examples

Efficient Returns e-mails and phone calls promptly

Gets out of bed and gets going quickly in the

Prioritizes
morning

Activates him/herself to start on a task

Weaknesses Examples

Puts off minor household jobs such

Procrastinates as changing lights or doing the dishes
after dinner

Has problems transitioning from one task to Continues to watch TV rather than start to
another and is slow to get moving read a book or work on a household project

Planning

Strengths Examples

Puts aside money to pay for a down payment

Plans a sequence that does not waste time
on a car

Gets out of bed and gets going quickly in the

Sets short- and long-term goals at home and morning; drops kids at practice, food shops,
work goes to the bank, makes dinner, and picks up
kids at the end of practice

Weaknesses Examples
 Forgets many needed items at
Has difficulty committing to plans the supermarket because of not using a
shopping list

Loses out on opportunities such as going to a

Cannot explain priorities and goals favorite restaurant because of not making
reservations or planning ahead

Organization

Strengths Examples

Uses a calendar or planner to assist in keeping

Easily finds things that she wants
activities organized

Keeps desk neat and materials accessible at

work

Designates a specified place for most things at

Puts away clothes in closets and drawers
home

Weaknesses Examples

Loses money, keys, wallet, and cell phone on

Is always looking for something
a regular basis

Is often unsure of her schedule Schedules two things for the same time

Time Management

Strengths Examples

Budgets time efficiently Is on time for meetings and deadlines

Budgets time according to priorities at work

Correctly estimates the amount of
and home so that he/she can be at kids’
time needed to complete a task
games or family gatherings

Paces herself to start and complete a job

Pays bills on time
effectively

Weaknesses Examples

Gets caught up in a minor detail in cleaning

Is frequently late the house, so that one room gets cleaned and
the rest of the house remains dirty

Is late to pick up kids, get to work, or go to an

Has problems prioritizing
appointment
 Underestimates how much time it will take to
May work very slowly complete common errands such as going food
shopping or making dinner

Flexibility

Strengths Examples

Can shift his/her approach Adapts to unexpected changes in schedule

Is adventurous, willing to try out new

Learns from mistakes
restaurants or listen to different music

Takes on new challenges at work or pursues

Looks at other perspectives
additional training to develop new skills

Changes gears readily and solves problems

Weaknesses Examples

Experiences problems with changes in routine Becomes overly upset when a meeting or
and schedule plans are changed

Gets stuck and is unable to come up with new

Becomes insistent and indignant
approaches when a previous solution or
in disagreements with others
strategy no longer works

Sees only one side of a story

Is unwilling to try new activities, restaurants,

TV shows or to meet new people

Metacognition

Strengths Examples

Applies what he/she has learned in one

situation to another, such as knowing what
Can take perspective on herself and others.
type of restaurant her family will like or what
kind of movie to rent for her children

Is generally accurate in her assessment of

his/her performance

Knows strengths and weaknesses

Is a good judge of her abilities, so that she is

able to take on manageable tasks at locations
 Weaknesses Examples

Does not recognize the impact of her behavior Uses the same tactics or strategies that have
on others failed repeatedly in the past

Can’t explain how she intends to approach or Often feels that things that happen to her are
solve a problem outside of her control

Often acts before thinking and without

consideration of his/her actions or
anticipating consequences

Response Inhibition

Strengths Examples

Stops and thinks before making an important Delays making negative comments to her
decision spouse or boss

Takes time to read directions or analyze a Checks over an important work assignment
problem before starting to do something before handing it in

Makes a choice not to engage in an argument

Can postpone immediate gratification
with a teenage son or daughter

Weaknesses Examples

Agrees to do something such as going out or

Speaks before thinking helping someone when he/she has other
commitments

Drinks or gambles too much without

Can be impulsive
considering the impact

May not consider safety or long-term impact of

an action

Talks about something in conversations or at

work without sufficient preparation

Regulation of Affect

Strengths Examples

Can regulate/control his/her emotions Expresses frustration verbally

Finds something positive about a situation

Can tolerate frustration
when things don’t go as planned
 Is optimistic and positive

Is not overly reactive when criticized at work

or by family or friends and can accept the
criticism or make a well thought-out response

Weaknesses Examples

Goes into a “rage” or an angry display in

Gets easily upset or angry
response to perceived criticism

Is moody, often in response to minimal Becomes overly happy or despondent in

provocation response to a routine event

Stays upset for extended periods

Responds angrily to a critical phone call or e-

mail at work

Stays angry or upset for an entire day, getting

stuck in a “bad mood”

Social Awareness

Strengths Examples

“Reads” nonverbal cues and the feelings of

Has many friends and is well-liked
others

Recognizes the needs of others Is a good host, and people enjoy visiting

Is a good listener and thoughtful in times of

Sees other people’s perspectives
stress for others

Weaknesses Examples

Unknowingly stands too close in conversations

Is unaware of other people’s feelings
and makes others uncomfortable

Has difficulty understanding verbal cues such Dominates conversations and does not listen
as social conventions and personal boundaries to others

Sustained Attention

Strengths Examples

Maintains focus and attention for a sustained Can pay attention to something that may be
period of time important, but boring
 Keeps focus on a conversation with a child,
Ignores distractions even with distractions such as a television or
other conversations in the room

Starts on household tasks such as cleaning, is

Returns to an activity if interrupted
interrupted by taking a child to a practice,
and reengages attention
then returns to the task

Weaknesses Examples

Starts one thing after another without finishing Reads a book without paying attention to the
them content and needs to reread it

Daydreams at work, getting distracted by the

Gets bored easily computer, or loses track in conversations with
coworkers

Is easily distracted by external events Is told by spouse that she is not listening

Goal-Directed Persistence

Strengths Examples

Sets goals and sustains ongoing efforts to Completes long-term tasks such as finishing a
complete them basement or maintaining a vegetable garden

Sets and achieves long-term goals Sets long-term personal goals such as building
and persists in the face of difficulty, hardship, a business, saving money for a new home, or
and grueling effort getting a college degree

Weaknesses Examples

Starts cleaning the garage or basement and

Is bored by long-term tasks
gives up after an hour

Sets a goal of saving money for a

Gives up readily when a job is perceived as
down payment on a house but spends it on a
overly difficult
new car

Working Memory

Strengths Examples

Does tasks without losing sight of other

Follows multi-step directions
commitments or obligations

Remembers previous experiences and applies Remembers to do things when asked by

them in a current action spouse or boss
Remembers the details of a conversation, a
project at work, or driving directions

Weaknesses Examples

Often forgets items he/she wants when food

Is absent-minded
shopping

Starts on a project and forgets to do an

Needs frequent reminders to complete tasks
important part of it

Has difficulty remembering multi-step

directions

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