Become an
Essential Employee
We all have a lot on our plates, and
sometimes we overload ourselves and take
on bigger bites than we can chew. Being
spread too thin and doing too many things at once
can reduce the overall quality of
our work.
Focusing on individual
assignments from start to finish
helps improve quality and enables you to
complete projects more efficiently. Today, staying
on track and becoming indispensable to your
company is very important when companies are
downsizing.
What are you doing to become
indispensable? We'd like to know. Send a
note to marketing@vericom.net.
Robert J.
Loeb
President &
CEO
Vericom
Corporation |
The Myth of
Multi-Tasking
By: Mike Mitchell
What Is Multi-tasking?
In the truest sense, multi-tasking is the ability to simultaneously do two disparate tasks with equal competence. No one is really capable of working like this. The brain is simply not wired for it. Your brain is a wonderfully complex organ capable of switching tasks with tremendous speed which gives the impression of simultaneous processing. A more accurate term for what we refer to as multi-tasking is “switch-tasking.” Note that the more complex the task, the longer it takes the brain to switch between tasks. Although conventional business wisdom seems to indicate that multi-tasking increases productivity, research is revealing quite a different story.
The Truth about Multi-tasking
Christine Rosen, writing in The New Atlantis, quotes Lord Chesterfield as giving this advice to his son in 1740, “There is time enough for everything in the course of the day, if you do but one thing at once, but there is not time enough in the year, if you will do two things at a time.”
Current research has dispelled the claim that a multi-tasking employee is a more productive employee. Listed below are just some of the adverse effects of multi-tasking.
Decreased productivity: Dr. David Meyer, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan, claims that multi-tasking can actually slow you down. He says that through research he has discovered that the more complex activities a person takes on, the more time it actually takes in the long run. He states that, “Not being able to concentrate for, say, tens of minutes at a time, may mean it's costing a company as much as 20 to 40 percent in terms of potential efficiency lost, or the "time cost" of switching [tasks]”.
Learning and information recall: According to Science Daily, multi-tasking affects the brain's learning systems, and as a result, we do not learn as well when we are distracted. "Multi-tasking adversely affects how you learn," said Russell Poldrack, UCLA associate professor of psychology... "Even if you learn while multi-tasking, that learning is less flexible and more specialized, so you cannot retrieve the information as easily.” Multi-tasking can also creates short term memory lapses.
Increased stress: Talane Miedaner in her book Coach Yourself to Success states the adverse effect of multi-tasking this way, “When I did one thing at a time..., I felt in control instead of harried
It is obviously stressful to try to do more than one thing at a time, there is nothing attractive about stressed out people.” The personal cost of trying to multi-task is an increased level of stress, tension, and frustration.
Respect your Co-Workers
Not only is multi-tasking detrimental to you and your company, it is, in some cases, disrespectful to your co-workers. To give less than 100% of your attention to a co-worker asking for your help or guidance shows a lack of respect to that person. The next time you’re tempted to do more than one task at a time, set your task priorities. Work on one task to the best of your ability, then go to the next one. I know calls and interruptions are constant but learn to prioritize them. Give them your complete attention then refocus 100% of your energy on your current task.
-Mike |
Mike has more than 20 years experience in
the telecom
industry.  |
|
Q: Dear
Mike: My company is downsizing and
laying off some employees. I like the company and
don't want to be laid off. What do you recommend
to help me keep my job? Worried
Worker
A: Dear Worried
Worker: Leadership usually looks at several factors when
making decisions as to which personnel to lay off.
Considerations include: operating/labor budget,
salaries, functionality, outsourcing, and more. I
recommend you stay positive and focus on the
following areas:
Attitude: Keep a
positive attitude and encourage others. Don't
let circumstances control you. Conduct your
daily activities with the expectation that
you're going to keep your job.
Volunteer: Look for
opportunities to help in other areas of your
company. The more you can do for the company,
the more valuable you become. It's also
important to make friends and network in
other departments. You may find a more secure
job opening in another part of the
company.
Education: Don't stop
learning. Take advantage of any educational
courses your company has to offer (including
technical, customer-oriented, and managerial).
If tuition reimbursement is available, enroll in
a local college or tech school.
If
you do your job well, display a good attitude, and
take initiative, people will notice. Although
there is no guarantee of job security, you may
develop an advocate among the decision makers of
your company who will do everything possible to
keep you as an employee.
-Mike
|
CenturyTel, Inc. and EMBARQ Corp. today
announce the selection of CenturyLink as the
name of their combined
company. | |
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