Task or No Task
A question in everyone’s mind……While working on one task are
we performing multi-tasking or not or something else?
When we say multi-tasking what comes in mind: Multi-tasking
is neither reality nor it is efficient. The lack of effectiveness has
everything to do with multi-tasking. In an everyday routine, one should note
down all the task(s) and the interruptions occurred during the day’s happening;
which in turn helps in conclude that are you performing your one and only one
task or multi-task or are you doing switch-tasking.
It has been rightly said that brain cannot effectively do
two things at once. The brain is lot like a computer you may have several
screens open on your desktop, but you are able to think about only one at a
time. A concept in Economics about switching cost usually refers to the cost of
switching from one supplier to another.
Switching costs
results when people must go back and review what they have done before they can
resume work o n a task. The more complicated the task….the greater the cost. (Time Management,
Longer a worker is distracted by an interruption; the more
likely that they will continue to be interrupted are not resuming the task that
same day. (Study conducted by the
Another term that describes a productive use of time doing
multiple things; its background tasking; i.e. when you perform two or more
tasks where only one of those tasks requires mental effort.
In multi-tasking only one CPU is involved, but it switches
from one program to another so quickly that it gives the appearance of
executing all of the programs at the same time. Switch-tasking is always less
efficient and less effective. On the other side, background has the potential
to be efficient and effective; if it is used properly.
As said by Mary Kay Ash, “No matter how busy you are, you
must take time to make the other person feel important.” Here we take an
example of a Boss and subordinate. A word WHEN is explained with the help of
this example:
WHEN
“Subordinates do not know when they are going to get chance
to talk to boss again. They have become used to boss being in perpetual
switch-tasking mode”
WHEN?
“Because they (subordinates) don’t know when boss is ever
going to slowdown enough to listen to them again, they are afraid. They have
learned that once they have grabbed the attention, they should not let go”
WHEN
If the boss gives a clear WHEN, a when they can count on,
then the fear goes away. They will learn to count on that when, and they will
learn to hold off most of the questions they have.
If the subordinates learn to rely on the when rather than on
urgency to talk to the boss, there will be a large drop of switch-tasking. But
if the boss thinks How can I give then a clear WHEN? “Most of the time I am so
out of control myself that I can’t control what happens in my day” The answer
is in two ways:
WHEN: *set recurring meetings
* give a
clear expectation of availability
The managers should have recurring meeting only with those
people who are accountable to you or have regular questions for
you. Devote time to subordinate who have lots of questions for you throughout
the day, who makes you think and brain storm.
Remember always: “THERE IS ONLY ONE TIME LINE, THERE
IS ONLY ONE YOU”
Switch tasking is just one of the ways in which people try
to violate this truth. Other ways include not scheduling travel time,
double-booking and trying to get 65 mins worth of work in 60 mins.
To do things at once is to do neither--- Publilius
Syrus, Roman Philosopher
If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one--- Russian
Proverb
Now it’s your time to decide: TASK OR NOT TASK
Reference:
The Myth of Multitasking: How “Doing it all” gets Nothing
Done written by Dave Crenshaw. Visit: www.davecrenshaw.com , http://www.davecrenshaw.com/the-myth-of-multitasking.php
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