~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Multitasking Faux Pas
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In This Month's Issue: Is multitasking destroying your productivity? See what recent research findings say about multitasking and its consequences. Multitasking Faux Pas
|
|
|
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Hot Links: Article: How to Create New Time Habits Managers Best Practices Toolkit::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
|
|
|
Multitasking is the enemy of focus. These days multitasking feels like a necessity of life. Every day workers have one eye on the clock and one eye on completing a demanding amount of work. Too much work, not enough time. Multitasking decreases efficiency according to University of Michigan research professor and psychologist, Dr. David E. Meyer. Research participants lost a significant amount of time shuffling between tasks of varying complexity and familiarity. Compared to finishing one job and beginning another, multitasking adds as much as 40% to completion time. Another way of stating the finding is multitasking reduces efficiency and productivity up to 40%, wasting a significant 3 hours and 12 minutes per eight hour day! Time is lost in the focus and refocus scenario with multitasking (constantly changing your center of attention). It takes time to concentrate on the next task. For example, a telephone call interruption takes concentration and time off the task at hand. It requires single-mindedness and more time to resume the work you were doing before the phone call. Try this: For a minimum of 90 minutes per day, close the door to your office, do not answer the phone or look at your email, and put your best effort towards your most difficult task. Before closing the door, be sure to communicate with those around you what you are doing. According to Doctor Andrew Weil, www.drweil.com, author of the "Self Healing" newsletter, the brain is not designed to process information like a computer. A computer records information simultaneously; our brains record information sequentially. Here are some typical multitasking situations and their consequences:
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Organizations everywhere are seeking better ways to secure the talent necessary to their success. Jobs and the specific talents of the people who fill them are the unique building blocks of an organization's success. People Smart Tools utilizes time tested, predictable, validated assessments, to maximize your investment in your most valuable resource, your people. Selecting, retaining, and developing top performers is our specialty. Interviewers agree that the interview process is minimally effective at best. What is needed is an unbiased assessment that reveals people's VALUES that motivate them to do a job, the BEHAVIORS they will bring to the job, and whether they have the specific talents, or ATTRIBUTES, needed for the job. The right TALENT in the right JOB spells success!In essence, we let the job tell us its' behavior needs. (See "If the Job Could Talk"...) We compare the behavioral needs of the job to the natural temperament of the candidate. The closerhe fit, the better chance for a long-term employee. We help you select the best employee for the job and provide a roadmap for skill development and lasting retention. For more information, email or call Jim at 325-792-1148.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
|
|
|
True productivity comes from deliberate attention to the most important task. Chiropractors are taught to focus so much that they "become one" with the bone they are adjusting. "Becoming one" with your work brings forth your best effort in the least amount of time. Many jobs, such as a telephone-answering receptionist or positions servicing customer's concerns, require constant interruptions. Adding other work to their daily task will dilute the effectiveness of their main assignment. To work more productively, consider taking brief meditation breaks between tasks. This can be accomplished by deep breathing, taking short walks, or intentionally distracting your mind by focusing on something pleasant such as a family member or an upcoming fun event. If you are really dealing with a heavy matter, count backwards from 105 by 7's or 3's until you get to zero. You can actually feel the stress and tension leave your body. It is time to rethink multitasking for yourself, your peers, and those you supervise. Save up to 40% of your day by working together as a team to find ways to support each other so everyone will have more time to do their best work. The result will increase work quality, enjoyment and decrease relationship tension. Three people responded to the "Fear Illusion" Toolbox last month. Mike Barbour overcame his fear of heights as a child by making himself jump out of a tree repeatedly. Dana Curtis conquered her fear of flying when she was asked to go on a trip to Hawaii. She realized she was going to miss out on a lot of fun if she didn't push herself to do it. Dana is now co-owner of a thriving business and has to fly often. Sid Kemp wanted to be a writer since he was eight years old. Fear had been his greatest barrier. He began by writing manuals and ghost writing books and eventually got the courage to write a business book in his own name. He has now published eight books on business. It appears that there is opportunity in our fears. Meeting them head on takes courage and rewards us with freedom we would not have had. Communicate, relate, and prosper everyday. Cheerful regards, Jim Rooney
|
|
|
Quick Links... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
Contact Information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
email:
rj@peoplesmarttools.com
phone:
325-792-1148
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
