Most people (we) try to do several things at once. However, studies show that successful people do only one thing at a time. They realize that it will take them less time than if they jumped around from task to task. There are able to concentrate better, do the job in less time, and make fewer errors.
Multitasking is often admired as a skill and even cited as a job requirement sometimes. In fact, it is usually only an inefficient and ineffective way of dealing with problems resulting from inferior time management. We have appropriated the term from the world of computers: multitasking they freeze up or crash. Focus on one thing at a time: it takes discipline, but results are worth the effort.
How do you avoid multitasking? Successful people do it in two ways, depending on the importance and urgency of the task that is interrupting.
If the interruption is of a higher priority than the task you are working on, accept it. Jot down any important thoughts or idea on the current task, make a note of where you are with the task, file it away, and put it back on your list before you begin the new request.
If the interruption is less important then the current task, put off the interruption long enough to finish what you are working on. Then evaluate the second task: it may be less important and urgent than other tasks on your schedule. Remember: successful people try hard to finish their thought, task, or whether they are working on before they take on a new task or request. That prevents the start/stop, start/stop many people experience all day long.
If you are caught in a situation in which you are tempted to multitasking, here are three suggestions to avoid handling the tasks inefficiently and ineffectively:
- Get specifies: Why would you be doing this task? When would be the absolute deadline?
- Check your Master List (ML): Rather than accepting a request automatically, look at you ML and determine the priority that the new task would have.
- Consult your senior: When your schedule is full and the person giving you the task is “making you an offer you can not refuse”, ask your senior/boss to decide on the order in which you should do the tasks. Sometimes, personally, position, and power compete with priorities.
Multitasking allow screwing up several things at once. Believe me, I have learned my lesson the hard way ^^;
Subscribe Feed (RSS)
I know this is not the plasma HDTV that I’m look at, but it still deliver some goodies such as this model offer the high(er) contrast ratio TFT LCD in the market at the moment. (Why TFT-LCD?? Heh!! The reason being is my blog earnings are still way out to get a good plasma HDTV, that simple.)
