Multitasking, and why it’s not all it’s cracked up to be

This article on Why Multitasking May Make You Less Productive via Mashable popped up in my Twitter feed this week.

We all seem to pride ourselves on how much we can multitask, and it is often the topic of conversation. How many plates we can keep spinning in the air at any one time, and how many things we do in a day.  But is it necessary, or is it a habit?

When I was working as a PA, I pretty much had to multitask to deal with everything that would come my way in a day. Most of the time I would have several tasks on the go, colleagues in and out of the office, the phone would ring and I’d need to break off to do something else, or prioritise it and do it later.  Some days, even breathing was an option! I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I guess you could say working that way was in my nature. But it made me think about the way I work in my own business. Do I still do it now, and if so, do I need to?

The article mentions that multitasking is a barrier to our ability to listen and focus, and permits distraction, and I agree.

My approach to my business is very different to the way I worked as a PA. Yes, I have lots of things on the go, and I’m busy, but I apply flexibility to what I do, rather than start the plates spinning in the morning and keep adding to them during the day!

The main objective for me is simple.  To achieve the best outcome for my clients in the work that I do. To do a job well I like to give it full attention.  If a tight deadline needs meeting, I’ll be flexible to accommodate that work.  Yes, there are still interruptions, but I can manage those interruptions differently.

The work I do now is more fulfilling. Not only am I working in my own business the way I want to, doing what I enjoy, but I get bundles of satisfaction from being able to be more dedicated and creative in what I do, leading to greater efficiency (and more time to breathe too!).

photo credit: stoneysteiner