Most people think that being able to do multiple things at once is a sign of accomplishment, professionalism, and superior brain power. While it does seem impressive, multitasking is not at the pinnacle of brain power. In fact, multitasking is actually hurting your productivity, even if it feels the opposite. That’s not speculation, either. It’s a cold, hard fact that multitasking can have a huge negative impact on your business operations. Take a look and see for yourself.
Multitasking is just an illusion
We all multitask at times and often convince ourselves that we are more efficient that way. For example, listening to music while working or cleaning. However, the reality is that listening to music while doing these (arguably) mundane things is simply more enjoyable.
Your brain is physically incapable of listening to music and typing an email at the same time. You are simply switching between listening and typing very, very quickly. Your brain has to manually switch between those two tasks in order to do both of them — you just aren’t aware it’s happening.
The cons of multitasking
There are several severe drawbacks to multitasking, especially when it comes to a business’ productivity at a large level. These include the following.
The assumed need to multitask
Modern workers assume they need to multitask to work efficiently. Sometimes, this translates to wasting time finding a way to multitask. For example, searching for the right focus playlist on an app. Or arranging their desktop to see their email, in-office chat, and active documents in just the right way. This is actually wasted time that could otherwise be spent on a single task of work.
Wasted energy
No matter how efficient it feels to multitask, there is previous energy wasted multitasking. The constant switch between the two tasks has you “losing” energy that could otherwise help you finish the work task in less time with less energy spent.
The inability to single-focus
The last part of this monster is that the assumed need to multitask means that someone who is forced to single-focus feels frozen or physically incapable of doing so. If their focus playlist doesn’t work, they “can’t” work.
How to maximize productivity
So, if multitasking is truly a monster in your business, how do you prioritize productivity? One of the most important things is to reach out for help. A business coach can help explain the drawbacks of multitasking to your team in a way that won’t feel confrontational. They can also help you create accountability partners within the office to help “retrain” your staff’s focus ability.
Outside help can also offer fresh eyes on what possible distractions there are and how to limit them for a more productive and positive workspace.
When multitasking is banished from your office in its most malicious forms, you’ll see a significant spike in productivity. Plus, employees will often feel the difference in their focus ability and it can infuse positivity into your workforce. Single focus may seem strange in light of how much multitasking is accepted, but it really can make a noticeable difference in daily work life.
If you need help with some team/group training, getting the upper echelon on board with leadership training for the team, or just want help getting you and your business back on track, let Team Stetzel show you how to get better results! Contact us at (832) 346-7670 today or Start Here Right Now!
