Ridge Insights - October 2006
Multitasking
Ridge Insights
A monthly e-brief from Ridge Training
Date: October 17, 2006
To subscribe: www.ridge.com/insights.htm _______________________________________________
THIS MONTH - Multitasking
1. What We're Thinking About: Multitasking
2. Resources for Managing Multitasking
3. Questions of the Month
1. What We're Thinking About: Multitasking
You're on the phone and hear the person at the other end tap-tap-taping on their keyboard. Or maybe you're even talking to that person in their office! What's the first thing you think? "They're not listening."
Recent research shows you're at least 53% right: when doing something that requires visual attention, the part of the brain that takes care of listening is running at 47% of capacity.
http://www.ccbi.cmu.edu/news/WallStreetJournalFeb2003-Multitasking.doc
(The URL above links to an actual MS Word file rather than a web page.)
That's the curse of multitasking. While we like to think that we're getting two things done in the same amount time, it's just not the case. In reality we're multi-switching--working on one thing at a time and switching back and forth between tasks. If the tasks are simple and familiar, the cost of dividing our attention is low. But when tasks are complex or unfamiliar, individuals spend more total time and make more errors trying to do two things at once instead of doing one and then the other. This is especially true when one of those things is listening.
Not convinced? Try the following experiment (devised by psychologist Arthur Thomas Jersild in 1927): Take this list of numbers--37, 46, 52, 84. Add 6 to each number. Pretty quick, right? Now subtract 3 from each number. Still pretty straight-forward. Now alternate--add 6 to the first and subtract 3 from the second, and so on. If you're like most people, this takes longer, and you become conscious of the switching that goes on in your head.
Now try the same task three times in succession while listening to your voice mail. Your math skills and your listening skills will both suffer. And if you routinely multitask in "live" conversations, the quality of your relationships will suffer from the inattention.
To break the multi-tasking habit where people are involved, try this activity. In the next interaction you have, stop what you're doing, face the other person, and be open to what they have to say. If it's a phone conference, try turning your chair so you're not tempted by the work on your computer or desk. These small, simple behaviors are what we call Attending--giving your full attention to the other person. These gestures may seem insignificant, but they have a surprisingly strong dual benefit. Not only do they demonstrate to the other person that what they're saying is important, attending behaviors discipline you to actually pay attention. Try it and see. Your comprehension and retention will go up, and over time, people will repay the favor: they'll give your their undivided attention when it's your turn to talk.
2. Resources for Managing Multitasking
The goal of multitasking is productivity--to get as much done in the time you have to do it. For information on personal productivity, try David Allen's Getting Things Done
You can read an excerpt here:
Merlin Mann offers some useful tips here.
To develop your interpersonal productivity, you can read more on Attending at our web site.
http://www.ridge.com/news.html#articles
3. Question of the Month
Next month's issue will focus on "Emotional Self-Management."
Our questions of the month is: When have emotional reactions gotten you in trouble? What successes have you had managing those reactions before they do?
To share your experience, please use the form at this link to respond. Use the word SELF-MANAGEMENT for the topic. We'll use your responses to help create the next edition of "Ridge Insights."
We will not use this information for any other purpose without your permission.
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