I received the following PAUSE newsletter today from Patricia Katz. It's so true what she says about so-called multi-tasking.
REFLECTION:
If you were running late in the morning and grabbed something to eat on the drive to work, how many of you would choose a bowl of milk and cereal? Not exactly top of list for a mobile snack, is it?
I'm guessing one Ontario woman wishes she hadn't made that choice herself. Earlier this winter this cheerio scooping driver lost control on an icy highway, crashing into the roadside guideposts. Police found her - safe but embarrassed - covered in milk and cereal.
Her experience is one more - thankfully not tragic - example of what happens when we choose to multitask in thoughtless, irresponsible ways.
In his recent book, Dave Crenshaw explodes what he calls the 'Myth of Multitasking'. Crenshaw maintains that multitasking is neither a reality nor efficient.
When we multitask, we're not really doing two things at once. We're actually moving back and forth between tasks doing something Crenshaw refers to as ' micro switch-tasking'. Each switch of attention and focus comes with an efficiency cost - the time and energy required to refocus on the competing task before being able to carry on.
Now, some of you may already be preparing your arguments that you can in fact walk and chew gum at the same time - hence proving that multitasking is not a myth. Know that Crenshaw distinguishes between switch-tasking and background-tasking. The latter is when you perform multiple tasks where only ONE task requires significant mental effort.
ACTION:
Pay attention to the real nature of the multitasking experience the next time you find yourself engaging in conversation, checking your email, and making a note all at the same time. Presumably all three of these tasks require some degree of mental effort - so none would qualify as a backgrounding task.
How many times do you have to ask yourself or someone else, "Where was I?"
In what instances would you be better off simply concentrating on one focal point to completion, and then moving on to the next?
PS- Keep your eyes on the road and your cereal in the kitchen!
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
"Multitasking: A polite way of telling someone you haven't heard a word they said." From Urbandictionary.com.
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RESOURCE OF THE WEEK:
Read Crenshaw's article on 'The Myth of Multitasking' at: http://davecrenshaw.com/mythofmultitasking.html
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From the
e-zine, 'PAUSE '. Copyright 2009 Patricia Katz, Optimus Consulting.
(877) 728-5289 or www.patkatz.com.
4 comments:
Wow--cereal AND milk? You know, I hardly see anyone here in England multi-tasking in their cars. I'm sure some do, but it's not as bad as it is in America, I think. I have not seen anyone eating while driving. And it's against the law to talk on the phone while driving. When we were back in Texas over Christmas, I noticed how distracted some drivers seemed while they talked on the phone. Scary!
come to think of it, I HAVE seen someone eating porridge one morning in the driver's seat. I've seen people doing their makeup. You're right, it IS scary.
Speaking of makeup, there are women who get on the trains here who have HUGE purses. They pull out all sorts of things, shoes, boots, books, iPods and huge mirrors for putting on makeup! At least they're not driving ;-)
that's really funny about those huge purses.
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