It is pretty well acknowledged that your ability to be successful in what ever area you choose relates to your ability to focus. To focus on the learning, to focus on the conversations, to focus on the tasks necessary…
Our ability to focus has been eroding regularly since the advent of all of our electronic and incessant interruptions. It has been said that human beings nowadays have less of a focus attention span than that of a goldfish, about eight seconds, and that is concerning.
But the other side of that says that if you can focus more effectively, or longer and better, it will give you the edge on the competition. Get that?
Unfortunately one of the practices that so many people try is to do two things at once. This is known as multitasking.
I believe that multitasking is the enemy of efficient focus.
There is no such thing as multitasking. You cannot think of two things at the same time, just like you can’t be two places at one time. Yes you might be able to do something physical and something mental at the same time, but you can’t focus your attention on two things at once, although many people think that they not only can, but that they are good at it.
When you try to use your brain to do two things at once, at least one of those tasks suffer. Either each gets 50% of your attention, one may get more, say 75% versus the other being 25%, or you may give 100% to one of the tasks, forsaking the other completely.
Multitasking just doesn’t work.
Multitasking is not only terribly inefficient but it most likely stresses you out. Or others. And besides, it is rude to anyone around you. Recently I was privileged to be at the Nantucket Project, a think tank where some of the best minds in the world share their views on upcoming issues. As I sat in the audience, I noticed the person next to me texting and reading her email. Then, when the speaker received applause, she asked me what had just been said… (No, I didn’t say what I wanted to say but yes, that was definitely high on the rude meter doncha think???)
A better way…
Instead, replace the word “multitasking” with the word “switch-tasking.” Switch-tasking is possible, and is the way to get more done.
The key to switch-tasking is to give 100% to the current task, and then to switch to the other task, and give that task full focus. That is the key.
When you are focusing, give full focus – it is your best competitive strategy.
