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Multi-tasking Mindlessness by Karen Fattorosi
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Location: Blogs Webster University Business Experts |
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| Posted by: Webster University |
8/26/2007 |
Resumes are sprinkled with catch phrases like “excellent at multi-tasking." Let’s say corporate downsizing has decimated a business (that means one out of ten workers have been let go). Those remaining have absorbed their roles and responsibilities. Fewer employees doing the same amount and types of work equals lower corporate costs. A new employee skill was born: multi-tasking.
The first time I heard the term “multi-tasking” was in the late ‘80s when there was a lot of managerial shuffling to reduce business costs. The idea of “multi-taking” assumes that the brain is capable of doing more than one thing at a time and doing both well. Well, that may be the theory but in practice the brain can’t do two things simultaneously and while it can do two things well consecutively, it takes time to shift gears and both accuracy and productivity suffers. After years of experts touting the value of multi-tasking employees to organizations the research is showing otherwise. Our brains are designed to concentrate. Both research and common sense support the idea that the quality of output and depth of thought deteriorate when required to attend to more and more tasks.
Cell phones and vehicles are an example of the dangers of multi-tasking. Accidents related to cell phone use are on the rise. We are capable of switching concentration from one task to another, however there is a lag time as the brain shifts gears and refocuses. That time, although brief, is critical when driving a car. That time compounds itself and results in a sizable amount of lost time when a worker is required to shift focus repeatedly on the job. When I see a resume with “excellent at multi-tasking” I worry that the prospective employee lacks the ability to concentrate and maintain focus. Those are singular hallmarks of creativity that I value much more in an employee than the skill to do several things half-well. |
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Re: Multi-tasking Mindlessness by Karen Fattorosi |
By Nicki Nance on
9/9/2007 |
| Half well begs a blog of its own. Last time I was on the line with tech support, the tech told me to just call back in four hours. I guess someone else was going to do the latter half of half well. <br><br>I don't mind an occasional mini-multi taskisode. It can be stimulating for a few hours. Longer than that, the brain does not sustain. Besides, I would rather demonstrate my great skill for organization and prioritization than my not so great skills at multitasking. <br><br> |
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