November 2008 Newsletter
Prime Performance
Multi-Tasking: When is it Effective?
Dear Subscriber,
I hope this finds you healthy and happy. I have decided that being happy counts as a metric for me. Like, many people in business, I previously discounted happiness as something important to have. I have realized that the point in life is to be happy. That includes my business. I can be successful and be happy with it. So I let go of my limiting belief that work must be hard, painful, full of obstacles and feel like work.
Why not be happy and love what we do? Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
President,
Real Change Experts
Helping Corporate Leaders Turn Frustration Into Prime Performance
408-454-0135
info@realchangeexperts.com
“Many people feel they must multi-task because everybody else is multitasking, but this is partly because they are all interrupting each other so much."
-Marilyn vos Savant
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Multi-Tasking, When is it Effective?
(Read time: 2 minutes )
I learned to multi-task as a young mother 20 odd years ago in my attempt to get more done in my allotted 24 hours a day. After all, I had young children to rear, a career to advance and an education to complete simultaneously. I became the master of the to-do list and got really organized. I was exhausted, too.
I agree that there is way more to do than there are hours in the week to do them and that sometimes multi-tasking can be a strategy that works.
An example of what doesn’t work for me is when I’m doing two types of communications. I know that I cannot type a message of more than 2 syllables and listen at the same time.
When I try to multi-task when my focus is required, it creates more work since I have to do at least one thing over again, like hearing the conversation.
So when can we multi-task and have positive results?
- Walk and talk – I like this for informal meetings to learn information, network or come to agreements and to get some exercise in. Tip – post walk make a few notes about agreements for accountability.
When to avoid multi-tasking:
- Using your blackberry or laptop at a meeting where you’re expected to participate.
Multi-tasking Toss Up
You have a weekly telecon that goes on for an hour or more and you’re at your desk – you can put your phone on mute so you can’t be heard typing away. The question is – are you a true participant, expected to take information back to your team and/or contribute to the conversation? If so, then you must do your best to stay present to the dialogue. If no, and you are compelled to be on the call for some other reason, then multi-task.
The decision ultimately comes down to knowing how you can split your focus to get more done and when it compromises your execution.
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About Real Change Experts
We specialize in mediating conflict and improving team effectiveness in corporate work groups. We turn tense, frustrating situations into opportunities to create more innovation and higher productivity.
Based in Santa Clara, California, our consulting firm works with Silicon Valley corporations, big and small. We have achieved great results for clients such as Lockheed Martin, SE Laboratories, and Santa Clara County.
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