Answering emails, while putting on hold a phone call and exchanging with colleagues… Does this job routine ring a bell to you? Is multitasking a way of becoming more productive or does it make employees less efficient?
Multitasking can be defined as the apparent performance of an individual to handle more than one task or activity at a time. We are living in a generation where digital and high tech devices are at hand whether it’s through a smartphone, connected watch… meaning we are constantly exposed to visual and audible information. In addition to this, we are constantly exposed to daily interruptions from social networks such as Facebook, Twitter… which causes us to be highly connected. The golden rule is information in real time… and your brain about to explode!
The myth of personal efficiency
Managing several tasks at once is a myth of personal efficiency. Douglas Merrill, ex vice-president at Google and author of the best seller “Getting organized in the Google Era” (Brodway Books), states that there are several easy ways to master personal efficiency by cutting down the multiple occasions at which you are being distracted. To be able to face this high amount of information, disconnecting would make you become more productive!
A loss of concentration
A renowned psychologist explains that this hyper stimulation of the brain leads to a decrease of concentration and attention. Risks of mental surcharge are even to be considered. It has be proven that we become faster and more efficient at what we do, when we accept to spend more time during the entry and analysis phase through which information is being sent into our brain. When we multitask, this lap of time tends to become shorter meaning we react before taking time to analyze the problem at first. This reactivity to a question or issue results in a loss of time. Indeed, reacting to a problem without thinking it through will most likely generate going back and forward and potential mistakes resulting in a 25% increase of the time spent. Thus, it’s worth spending a little more time at first in order to meet greater efficiency along the way.
What should I do on a daily basis to become more efficient?
Learn to get one task done at a time: yes, it is possible!
This hyper stimulation means that we are more receptive to visual stimulus, thus to photos and presentations through Powerpoint compared to long texts… Because hop from one information to another, we have a tendency to put these tasks to one side.
Try unplugging techniques: put down your phone!
To be clear, let go of your high tech devices. Try putting your smartphone away for a few hours during your day. Concentrate on the projects which are the most important for you.
On the internet, clarify the aim of your research: yes, there was a goal at first!
Try avoid starting researching, then opening another tab, then another… by finally forgetting which information you were looking for.
Remember that learning takes time
Yes, learning does take time and can be frustrating.
To finish, become fan of “digital detox” and follow Tony Schwartz’s advice on the Harvard Business Review, rediscover “The magic of doing one thing at a time”. Maybe in a few years’ time, technological improvements will directly connect our brain to new technologies for even more performance and rapidity of execution. This way, we could easily solve ultra-complex problems by carrying out several other activities at the same time!
What do you think about it? Share it with us!