As with most skills, some people are better at "multitasking" than others. But research shows that even those who are best at it perform worse than people who attempt the same tasks without the distractions encountered with multitasking.

The danger of trying to do too many things at once is, of course, less when the tasks are relatively simple and have few consequences (walking and chewing gum). But, as the complexity of the task increases and the stakes become higher (making important business decisions, driving a car), the "multitasking deficit" becomes increasingly treacherous. Some of the consequences include:

• Poor recall. People simply do not remember as much or as accurately.
   
• Longer time to complete tasks. It may seem counter-intuitive but multitasking actually slows people down. It takes longer to get things done.
   
• Bottlenecks are created. This is, essentially, the same thing that happens to your computer when you have too many windows open at the same time. The time required for "switching" eventually accumulates to the point that the computer stalls.
   
• Less ability to understand concepts. In some experiments, participants performed relatively well on tasks while multitasking but failed to understand the task fully. They were less able to use the information that they had "learned."
   
• More easily distracted by new, incoming information. Multitaskers often do well until they are interrupted; then they have difficulty returning to the original task. Thus, time is lost in the transition - time that was being 'saved' by multitasking.

Multitasking can develop a culture where there is less thinking, less understanding, less attention to detail, less mindfulness, and, ultimately, less productivity. Like many "new" things, multitasking seems desirable until it is better understood. Consider these time-tested "truths" about working effectively:
 

1. Do one thing at a time. This doesn't mean that if you have a project that requires twenty hours to complete that you need to work twenty hours straight.
   
   a. Break the task down into smaller chunks of a few minutes or a couple of hours and stay focused for that time. Eliminate distractions. Don't have the news going in the background. Don't be carrying on a conversation with a new hire. Don't write while you have the phone stuck to your ear. Close the door. Wear the sound reducing earphones.
    
2. Rest occasionally. One of the reasons multitasking doesn't work is that the brain has no time to recover. The brain is an organ that uses energy. It takes it at least a few seconds to refresh after intense usage. Sometimes even thirty seconds can go a long way toward preparing you for the next task.
    
3. Eat right. Exercise. Etc. All of the things we have learned about fitness apply to the healthy functioning of the brain. The evidence suggests that too much multitasking not only lowers our productivity but actually reduces our IQ.

As the leader of your team, don't encourage people to multitask. If they are going away to a training workshop, make sure that their work is covered by someone else. Don't call them on the cell phone or send "emergency" e-mails. Don't pull people out of meetings to "trouble-shoot" another project. Be a good role model for them.

The workplace is becoming increasingly complex. In a way, the idea that we need to concentrate on fewer things at once seems counterintuitive. But human beings are just not designed to effective balance so many things at once. Choose quality over quantity!

Connect with more strategies for effective leadership with Supervisor Training 101 that provides training for these critical basic skills and is available on-demand and on your time frame, like all our courses. That means no travel expenses, no time away from the office for you or your staff.

This course is totally self-paced and can be used individually or in a small group. In addition, optional individual or small-group coaching can be purchased for an additional charge. See the details here.

Leadership training opportunities are offered in many ways to meet your organization's specific needs and budget. Take a look at our different training approaches, including these On-Demand traning courses:

• Supervisor 101
• Bringing Out the Best in You and Others
• Managing Staff in Stressful Times: Celebrations and Challenges of Leading Multiple Generations
• Dealing With Difficult People
• Creating a Culture of Customer Service Excellence
• The Healthy Leader: Learning to Lead Yourself