Multi-Tasking
Posted by Gary M.Simms on Friday, January 8, 2010
Under: Health and Wellness
GSimms
GSimms-HealthandWellness.com
One of my nearest and dearest sent me an email today about this horrid thing called multi-tasking.
The comments made here will surely cause rancor among those whose jobs it is to push their subordinates to the point of literal collapse before saying something pitiful like, "I really appreciated that effort."
It stands to reason, that with an opening like the previous paragraph, you won't have to be a rocket scientist or Sherlock Holmes to figure out where I'm going with this.
Anyway, the term multi-tasking came from the computer industry in the mid 1960s to describe the ability of one computer to perform two or more jobs or job functions at the same time.
Hmmm...the light bulb moment that came from this was to accept that level of performance by a machine and expect that level of performance by the human machinery (employees). As the term was interwoven into the fabric of employee expectation, we once again, diminished the humanity of the workplace by setting our employee population up for major problems and less than stellar performance.
The email that I received called for a halt to the multitasking mindset. And I concur.
Because we have been told that this is the accepted way to function, we have adopted this mindset, even though we know that our efficiency suffers because of it.
My observation regarding multitasking is this.
It was easily endorsed by high level managers and corporate principals as a so-called value added work consciousness that their star performers would display. (After all, if you can get twice the work out of one person for the same dollar, would you turn that down?) I have observed over the years however that it is that break-neck pace that burns out the so-called valued employee implementing this strategy.
While multi-tasking makes the workforce appear to be buzzing with that busy look (valued by corporations), it makes the workforce less effective. Instead of efficiency, multi-tasking breeds mediocrity that's wrapped in the perceptions of milestone attainment. The truth is: though it appears to be that much is getting done, the facts are that most of what is getting done is really half done. Oh, we weren't trying to make comments about quality.
Anyway...I'm just sayin'. Let me know how you're feeling.
Resource:
GSimms is the author of "The Top 25 Things You Can Do to Change Your Life for the Better...Forever". He also publishes http://fyi-healthandwellness.blogspot.com and www.GSimms-TheTop25.com.
GSimms-HealthandWellness.com
One of my nearest and dearest sent me an email today about this horrid thing called multi-tasking.
The comments made here will surely cause rancor among those whose jobs it is to push their subordinates to the point of literal collapse before saying something pitiful like, "I really appreciated that effort."
It stands to reason, that with an opening like the previous paragraph, you won't have to be a rocket scientist or Sherlock Holmes to figure out where I'm going with this.
Anyway, the term multi-tasking came from the computer industry in the mid 1960s to describe the ability of one computer to perform two or more jobs or job functions at the same time.
Hmmm...the light bulb moment that came from this was to accept that level of performance by a machine and expect that level of performance by the human machinery (employees). As the term was interwoven into the fabric of employee expectation, we once again, diminished the humanity of the workplace by setting our employee population up for major problems and less than stellar performance.
The email that I received called for a halt to the multitasking mindset. And I concur.
Because we have been told that this is the accepted way to function, we have adopted this mindset, even though we know that our efficiency suffers because of it.
My observation regarding multitasking is this.
It was easily endorsed by high level managers and corporate principals as a so-called value added work consciousness that their star performers would display. (After all, if you can get twice the work out of one person for the same dollar, would you turn that down?) I have observed over the years however that it is that break-neck pace that burns out the so-called valued employee implementing this strategy.
While multi-tasking makes the workforce appear to be buzzing with that busy look (valued by corporations), it makes the workforce less effective. Instead of efficiency, multi-tasking breeds mediocrity that's wrapped in the perceptions of milestone attainment. The truth is: though it appears to be that much is getting done, the facts are that most of what is getting done is really half done. Oh, we weren't trying to make comments about quality.
Anyway...I'm just sayin'. Let me know how you're feeling.
Resource:
GSimms is the author of "The Top 25 Things You Can Do to Change Your Life for the Better...Forever". He also publishes http://fyi-healthandwellness.blogspot.com and www.GSimms-TheTop25.com.
In : Health and Wellness
Tags: multi-tasking gsimms "fyi-healthandwellness" "gary simms" "health and wellness tips"
GSimms is an accomplished businessman and writer. His writing credits include fortune 100 companies and Hollywood stars (Arnold Schwarzenegger and Spike Lee). He writes about a variety of topics but specializes in Health and Wellness, business, and social topics. In addition to being an in demand freelance writer, he publishes http://TheTop25.wordpress.com, www.GSimms-TheTop25.com, and http://fyi-healthandwellness.blogspot.com.
