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I learned a new word today: demi-task
Jody Gilbert at TechRepublic asks, "Do you listen 100 percent of the time or are you usually mentally engaged in several things at once?".
In her article 10 great ideas from five great bosses Jody states:
Top dogs know that nobody can multitask effectively over the long haul. They’ve figured out how to focus with laser-like precision. And their team members come to know that their boss is really hot and can’t be bluffed. This makes the team better at being clear and precise in their communications to you, and it saves both time and energy for everyone.
I know I am guilty of multi-tasking on many occasions. What works for me is to set time limits – for one hour I will work on this project, without checking emails, and without stopping until the hour is up. Generally what happens for me is, 15 minutes into working on something I remember I was supposed to email someone back or ask someone else about a different project. I use the beginning and the end of the day to think about and handle all of those little reminders. For a great read on the side-effects of multitasking I recommend New York Times article, Slow Down, Brave Multitasker, and Don’t Read This in Traffic. Time magazine also published an article in 2006 (ages ago according to internet time) stating that we are The Multitasking Generation.
Are you a demi-tasker? or a multi-tasker? Do you think multitasking is a generational trait?
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August 19, 2009 8:13 am
What is Multi-tasking really? I hear people, my wife included, state that they have to multi-task. Does that mean you are typing an email with one hand and taking notes from a phone conversation with the other at the same time? No, it's a term usely used to notate that you are working on multiple things at a given time, but you are still single threaded with your tasks. I think multi-tasking is generational and the reason is that today we say we are "managing our workload". That to me is multitasking...having 3-5 projects at one time and keeping up with your tasks and deliverables on all of them...and sometimes you are dealing with issues on a couple of them at the same time, but still single threaded on the task you are doing. Great Post!
August 19, 2009 9:13 am
With all the technology we have in our work and personal lives today, it is hard not to multitask. Tabs in our web browsers, double monitors for our computers, iPhones, RSS feeds, social networking sites, multiple email accounts....all of these things enable us to multitask and prevent us from concentrating on one thing. I find myself so distracted lately! I'm currently trying to figure out a time management method that allows me to do my writing and researching undistracted for a least a few hours a day without missing something on all the other outlets involved in my work.
August 19, 2009 10:07 am
That New York Times article was all over the place(i love the Times, but that article bored me). They kept confusing "task interruptions" with multi-tasking. I don't think that checking your personal email while working on a project in the office is multi-tasking, it is interrupting your work. The article states the obvious--you are going to complete projects slower if you are constantly interrupting your work to check email or facebook, etc.
However, talking on the phone while walking down the street, or watching the news while you cook dinner--that is multi-tasking--and can save you time. Multi-tasking can be a positive thing, depending on the context.
Elysa, what you said about setting time frames to limit your email or social interruptions is a great idea. I find this is hard to stick to, but it does help me finish a task at hand!
August 19, 2009 11:04 am
Lauren when you find the answer to undistracted time to write and research I'd love to hear it! I have the same problem. For now it's usually late night in lieu of TV.
Cassie, I completely agree there is a huge difference between task interruptions and multi-tasking. That's why I liked the term demi-task. Often my task interruptions are my own thoughts and internal alarms reminding me of something else that needs to be done.
August 19, 2009 11:22 am
I have the same problem. I will devote a night to doing all my homework for the week, and will spend half of the night doing stuff that I forgot I needed to do! Overall, these are things that I needed to get done so I don't really think of it as bad, but it still stinks that I don't get everything I wanted to get done, done during the allocated time period!
My guess would be that people my age are demi-taskers. I'm still in college, and when I observe others while I am in class or at the library, everyone is usually doing something more than actually studying or listening to the lecture: email, Facebook, texting, IMing, work for another class, randomly surfing the net! Maybe it has something to do with our lack of patience?
August 19, 2009 1:59 pm
I don't believe in mutlit-tasking. I think it is impossible. Any time I try to play video games AND talk to my sister on the phone, either my sister gets pissed or I die in the video game. My computer can barely multitask with crashing (I have a 2006 Mac Book). I think the real buzz phrase should be micro-tasking. I can spend two minutes working on a spreadsheet at work and then spend a minute reading an article and a minute twittering. A plethora of constantly updating tasks queued in line for my approval. Anybody that says they can do all of these things simultaneously is flat out lying.
August 19, 2009 6:03 pm
Melinda - I bet lack of patience is a big cause of all of the juggling.
Red - I think some people can do things simultaneously, it does take talent though, but I like your term micro-tasking.
December 18, 2009 3:47 pm
Great article and great reminder. Those who ask us to multitask are generally doing it for their benefit, not ours. A short period of focus in 100% more effective than any of the alternatives, hands down. And thanks for the links.
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Grad School Zone
UVA (Darden) MBA Admissions Deadlines for 2010-2011
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The University of Virginia's Darden School of Business recently published its application deadlines for the coming admissions season. Here they are, followed by our comments in italics:
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