Multitasking refers to simultaneously engaging several tasks. Multitasking work in the office environment is becoming the need of the hour. If we want to optimize our working time too much, don’t we risk doing our job badly and altering our health and well-being at work? It is not as easy as it seems. It is better to give ample time to each task, says Brian Bonar.
What is Multitasking?
It requires one to perform several functions at the same time. In personal life, you can call yourself multitasking when you prepare a meal while taking care of the laundry and the children’s homework. But this concept is misunderstood in professional life. Managing several tasks is rather positive until it crosses the path of your well-being.
What Are The Risks Of Multitasking?
At work, a race or competition is sometimes observed between employees. You have to appear dynamic and proactive. Looking overwhelmed appears as a guarantee of seriousness. We do not hesitate to multiply the tasks in this state of mind: documenting ourselves during a telephone exchange or answering e-mails during a meeting. However, you should know that the human brain is not intended to practice multitasking. In other words, if you think you’re multitasking at work, it’s just an illusion. Consider the following factors while multitasking.
- You wrote an e-mail during a meeting, but are you sure you understood what the speaker explained?
- Did your e-mail respond perfectly to the request?
- Are you convinced that you have avoided spelling mistakes?
- Did you save time?
Let’s be clear: multitasking threatens the quality of work. You certainly hear the speakers speak as you read and respond to the e-mail. It does not ensure you understand their words with concentration. Brian Bonar, an entrepreneur and a leader warns employees and their managers about the risks of multitasking, which does not show that it saves time. Switching from one activity to another is quite time-consuming when you repeat it several times a day.
Side Effects of Multitasking
We can witness less neat work, impaired concentration, loss of time, and a decline in intellectual capacities. The picture of multitasking is not rosy, but it does not stop there since being multitasked would also impact one ‘s well-being at work. Moreover, it is no coincidence that open space companies that care about the well-being of their employees offer small soundproof rooms. It allows employees to isolate themselves to concentrate better on a task. Multitasking seems unsuited to the modern workplace, suggests Brian Bonar.
Should We Give Up Multitasking?
Multitasking is not a managerial solution to be developed within companies. Should we completely give it up? Multitasking at work can only be valid if one of the two activities does not require special attention. The ideal would be to disconnect during a meeting to remain completely focused on the conversation. Technological advancement can assist you in many ways, says Brian Bonar. You can utilize tools by managing tasks carefully. It will help you in many ways as multitasking can affect an employee’s performance, so it is better to avoid it.
