Is multi tasking an effective way to work?

Some feel that by multi-tasking you are being super efficient, and I see it on CV’s all the time listed as a skill. I would argue the opposite, essentially if you are having to multi task it means you are overwhelmed and having to rush through items and do multiple actions at the same times. When you are multi tasking you might feel like you are getting more done but the reality is you are probably not doing those tasks to the best of your ability or as productively as you would like. I know if I am jumping from one thing to another the chances of me actually completing one of those tasks is slim. I’m more likely to do a little of all of them but not actually finish them off, leaving me feeling unproductive, demoralised and inefficient. You are also significantly more likely to make mistakes if you are multi tasking as your focus is split, so your quality of work is generally not as high. In today’s busy landscape it is so easy to descend into the urgency of multi tasking as we become overloaded with work. As a Business Manager one of the key elements I look at in a business is how productive and efficiently they are running, and managing tasks and priorities is a huge part of that. So if multi tasking isn’t the best way to work, what is?

Learning how to effectively manage multiple priorities is a better skillset, but it takes work. You need to plan, prioritise and focus on specific tasks. You’ll find you probably get more done by just focusing on one task at a time and actually completing it, you’ll also feel more positive and productive leading you to actually be, yep you guessed it, more productive! There’s a great quote by Josh Billings “Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until you get here”. It makes me laugh but it’s right, procrastination is where dreams go to die. Prioritise by importance, use time blocking and don’t allow any distractions. I use the same rules to manage my inbox so it doesn’t become overwhelming. Further to that use automation to manage your tasks and projects so you aren’t having to keep everything in your head. I think it really depends on what kind of a person you are and how you like to work as to how you manage your day, but a few simple steps like setting task reminders, setting time limits and blocking out distractions really help. Plan out your day (I do this the night before) so you know exactly what you are getting into the next day. It means you can wake up with a clear mind and clear purpose as to what you are doing that day rather than feeling a bit scatter brained and running from one thing to another without a clear goal in mind. It’ll also help you manage urgent situations that arise rather than feeling immediately overwhelmed. Another huge tip is learn to effectively delegate. As a Business Manager a large part of running day to day operations is handling delegation tasks from a business owner, but also delegating to the team effectively. This is where team collaboration and communication are key and developing those will enable your team and business to run much more efficiently.