Take Multitasking to Task

  ProjectsAtWork  

Tasks that require judgment and creativity also require focus, so it is this type of project work that is most compromised by the distractions of multitasking. Unfortunately, the problem is largely unrecognized by organizations even as its invisible costs multiply. Take these steps to eliminate the scourge of multitasking.

In many organizations, multitasking is still worn as a badge of honor. Unfortunately, however, research shows that people who attempt to multitask suffer a wide array of negative effects, from a 25 percent average reduction in output to a heightened susceptibility to distraction.

Many would argue that it's up to individuals and managers to avoid the multitasking trap. Ultimately, though, it's up to institutions to make sure employees are focused. After all, people do not typically work independently within organizations. Rather, they depend on others to complete preliminary tasks before they can start their own work. If tasks are delayed due to multitasking, it creates delays for those who depend on their completion to begin their own work, which causes delays to cascade through the workflow and further slow project completion. A growing number of organizations are realizing that multitasking is not an individual challenge; it’s an institutional one.

With increasing automation in every aspect of organizational work, people tend to be…

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