In this day and age, being pulled in all directions and doing a million things all at once is something to brag about. In fact, we look in awe at people who could juggle all kinds of tasks at once, wanting to learn the same thing. However, experts have weighed in on this myth and shattered the misconception that this juggling act is something we should aspire to.
The harsh and surprising truth is, multitasking is nothing but a band-aid solution for ineffectual time and management skills. Here are a few of the reasons why you should stop doing all things at once, and how you can stop working by this old myth.
Losing focus
Working on a report, replying to emails, and taking calls all at the same time? Sounds like a typical day at the office. But how many times have you sent out replies to the wrong recipients or read over the same paragraph in the report you’ve been writing for hours? Focus is something that we’ve sacrificed for the sake of ‘saving time’. In reality, you’re creating errors that will eat up more of your time later on.
Wasted productivity
Technology is a good thing. High speed business broadband helps us work faster and more efficiently. However, it can also bring with it a multitude of distractions. For startups and homebased businesses, it’s easy to feel busy and productive by spending hours in front of a computer, or on your phone. Experts say that this is akin to a chemical addiction. We’re not necessarily doing work but we feel that we are accomplishing something, simply because we are plugged in.
Dropping learning rates
Science has proven that the mind absorbs less whenever you’re doing more than one thing at a time. In fact, people who multitask have been found to have less brain density in areas that control emotional and cognitive functions. Juggling work also encourages difficulties with concentration, organization, and attention to detail.
Multitasking vs. Delegating
The best solution to multitasking is letting go and delegating duties to other members of your team. Something as simple as splitting up calls between your staff through call splaying can make a big difference to the way you work. Business VoIP systems allow you to collaborate with other members of your team and distribute work even across sites, so you don’t have to take on everything at once.
For start-ups and other small businesses, this may also mean outsourcing some of your functions. Enlist the help of live answering services to take calls for you so you can focus on the main thrust of your business. By doing so, you can regain focus on the things that matter without sacrificing customer service.
Take breaks
You don’t need to see the studies to know that a well-rested brain is a more productive one. Take time away from the office and unplugged from any type of screen. Get back your personal time and stop spending extra hours redoing work that should’ve been done right the first time, or picking up calls when you should be spending quality time with your family.
About the author
Trent Brinsley is General Manager at business telco Alltel, which delivers specialist business communication services to small and medium businesses. He has experience in all areas of the business and is committed to creating tailor fit yet affordable telecommunications solutions for each business.
