Multi-tasking is the rage, the norm, and seems the only way to manage in our crazy fast-paced world. We applaud it, take pride in our abilities to do it, and often suffer the consequences. Multi-tasking is capable of providing significant productivity gains, but it may also slow you down, reduce the quality of your work, or kill you.
I can clean out my inbox while I am on hold, clean up my desk while waiting for a return phone call, review my notes while my computer reboots, answer questions while a file opens, read a book while waiting for an appointment, listen to podcasts while stuck in traffic, or blog while riding the train. These are great productivity enhancers. Instead of getting annoyed, I get things done!
A little planning and opportunism are all you need to tuck these small or mobile tasks into the idle moments of your day. This type of multi-tasking is worth pursuing and applauding.
| “Text Messaging figures in LA Train Wreck” |
Unfortunately, too many people take multi-tasking beyond the idle moments. They try to do two things at once that require the same resource – the brain. Studies show that our brains can not do two things at once. |
We can shift focus amazingly fast, but we can’t really do two things at once. Thus, there are two hazards to multi-tasking when both activities require brain power. One affects the quality of your work and the other affects your productivity.
Quality Killers: Writing an email while talking on the phone is a definite quality killer. Likely evidence includes a poorly written message, hearing only half of what is said, and saying something stupid. Writing while driving can be a literal killer. You are only kidding yourself if you think you are holding up your end of an intelligent conversation or driving safely while also writing an email or performing a similar activity.
Productivity Killers: Speedily and steadily switching your mental focus among activities actually slows you down. Any activity requiring more than a modicum of brain power involves ramp up time. “Now where was I?” You waste time and energy reviewing, regrouping and restarting. Where can you regain that time? No where, since you can’t actually do two things at once. Get more done faster by focusing on one thing at a time. Set everything else aside. Turn off distractions. Reduce multi-tasking and eliminate ramp up time whenever brain power is required.
Be proud of your multi-tasking abilities if you are filling empty gaps with completed tasks and learning. Be embarrassed if you are compromising quality or safety. Be alert to ramp up time waste. Multi-tasking is a great tool when applied to the right situations and a dangerous illusion when applied elsewhere.
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