An article in a recent Wall Street Journal presented new research showing “Multitasking” is MUCH LESS EFFECTIVE than doing each job separately. In actuality, multitasking ensures you do none of the simultaneous activities well. It literally makes you stupid.
When we perform a visual task - like E-mail - at the same time as
an auditory task - like listening - here’s what happens when you watch the brain with functional MRI and PET scanning technologies …
- “The resources available for processing visual input dropped by
29% if the subject was trying to listen at the same time. “ - “The brain activation for listening dropped by 53% if the person was
trying to process visual input at the same time.”
WOW, trying to multitask shuts down 1/3 to 1/2 of your brain
compared to doing things one at a time.
The Bottom Line:
As a very busy business leader, you may be tempted to do two or
three things at once. Don’t - it will just make you stupid.
For example; these studies show that you can only listen well if
it is the ONLY THING you are doing. Turn off the phone, don’t
look at the computer…just listen.
The key is to do one thing at a time. This is scientific evidence
of the importance of “being in the moment”.
Remember, Multitasking Makes You Stupid. Don’t do it yourself and
don’t expect your team members to do it either.
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Catherine E. White 11.11.09 at 3:06 pm
I have found that many smart, well meaning people can be suckered into thinking that they are being more productive by splitting their attention.
As an author of a software application, Life Balance (Yes, there’s an app for that) many of my clients are recovering multi-taskers, and they are very smart, ambitious, interesting people who can think of more tasks that they would like to do than they could ever possibly hope to accomplish in one day. Some of my customers have a hundred or more tasks that they are juggling across multiple projects for work, home, community, spiritual, health or personal interests. These are creative minds struggling to follow through on the inspiration of the moment!
It is way too easy to let the pressure and stress of having a lot on your plate interfere with doing what is needful. It takes courage and some support to pick one task from the many possibilities and focus on the task at hand. These days, it seems especially difficult if the task at hand is to relax, take care of yourself, or to make decisions that are in line with your heart’s desires rather than someone else’s idea of what you ought to be doing.
While there are studies that show that multi-tasking is ineffective, and sometimes even dangerous, it is important to understand that these people are not actually stupid for trying to make the most of their time and energy. There are also studies that show the negative effect of multi-tasking is not permanent. And it feels so good when you stop!