The Myth of Multitasking

MULTITASKING

"Human multitasking is the best performance by an individual of appearing to handle more than one task at the same time. The term is derived from computer multitasking. An example of multitasking is taking phone calls while typing an email." -Wikipedia

Does anyone else remember when multitasking was considered the holy grail of the business world? More recent studies, however, have shown that multitasking actually reduces productivity and can cause more errors in our work.



It is bad to make mistakes when working for a boss--when you work for yourself it can be fatal!

As we mentioned in our last post the key to productivity is not 'more time' but instead 'more space'. Multitasking may create the illusion of more time but it's eating up our psychic bandwidth and creating less mental 'space'.




Rapid Refocus

RAPID REFOCUS

How do we make more space in the mind and still do everything we need to make our business(es) successful?

Then trick is "rapid refocus". A martial artist can fight four opponents at one time by fighting one opponent at a time, one right after the other. He doesn’t let the last (or the next) fight interfere with the present one. By focusing on the moment, his concentration defeats all. (credit Zentivity)

In business we need to think like the martial artist and tackle each project with full concentrated focus in order to get the best, most positive results.

Guard your creativity and don't let the myth of multitasking drain your resources. Be the business Ninja focusing your energy on the problem or project at hand and then rapidly refocusing as the next issue arises.


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Crisis Evokes Serenity

Have you noticed that during the times of your life when you were facing a crisis or other incident that took 100% of your brain power your mind focuses to a pinpoint and you have sudden and amazing clarity in the situation?

Of course you probably didn't think about it at the time. You were probably nailing plywood to your windows or administering CPR or swerving to avoid an accident. It all went by so fast you didn't stop to pay attention to the way your brain handled the moment.

Most of our time is spent far away from crisis. We hit the snooze button a couple of times, shower, drink that first blessed cup of coffee, drive to work barely noticing the world around us. The rest of the day, week, month, year goes pretty much the same.



Highly Distracted

And while we do not want to live a life of constant crisis, we should always strive for a degree of that true clarity.





What is on your mind?

THE SECRET OF INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY

Who hasn't said "If I only had more time...?"

But the secret is simply this: it is not about time, it is about SPACE.

We only have a certain, finite amount of psychic bandwidth and if our creative energy is being used to fix every little problem that has popped into our head or is buzzing around us like bees we will have nothing but wasted energy.

Save your creativity. Get in your 'zone'. Be ready for change.




Zen Buddhists use the term "mind like water". Bruce Lee said, "Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend."

Strive for flexibility, not perfection. Clear your mind and give yourself SPACE to think, to create, to grow.

(Credit: David Allen - CFA Leadercast...based on my own notes)

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Nicole Kann's Xpress Healthcare
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