There is quite a variety of views on the effectiveness of multi-tasking. Some people think it is essential to cope with the demand of a modern workplace. Others think it simply distracts from the efficiency of single-focus work.
There is some truth in both views and whether multitasking is ‘right’ for a worker depends on his/her personality and on the nature of the work.
This blog post, however, is not intending to come down on one side of the debate or the other.
It is to remind you that in a modern, multi-faceted, ultra-busy working world, it is essential to make time….. to think.
This may mean making small adjustments to your current working processes and workflows. For example, project teams should make sure they meet together regularly to avoid the need to send emails around the team which arrive and are dealt with asynchronously and may result in mis-communication, misunderstanding and delays.
Perhaps a short catchup meeting (face-to-face or virtual) at the end of each day will ensure everyone is ‘on the same page’ and information can be shared, discussed and used as the basis for decisions.
Perhaps ten minutes at the end of each lunch break can be set aside for a communications blackout and a ‘thinking window’.
Everyone – and each team – should think about what might work for them – to give them reflection and thinking time … and if the agreed team protocol does not work for you, you need to superimpose your additional, individual framework to met your own needs.
Think about it!