The Myth of Multitasking

Lots of studies have come out in the last few years showing that multitasking isn’t all it is cracked up to be. But now, here is a study that shows people who multitask the most are worse at it than people who multitask the least.

Do you expect your teams to multitask effectively – even in the face of evidence that suggests it can’t be done? Can you do anything to minimize multitasking?

Ron Mascitelli, author of the Lean Product Development Guidebook, suggests setting up “project time” wherein your team can’t read email, schedule meetings, or entertain other disruptions. This focused time might be one morning per week, or it might be a specified block of time every day.

Would your product development team be more productive with just four more hours of uninterrupted time each week? Probably.

Maybe dedicated project time is not possible in your organization. Still, you can minimize the negative impact of multitasking just by setting clear priorities for your team.

Let’s say engineer Eric comes in to your office and says he is overloaded. He tells you project manager Bob needs him to prepare a test report for project A and project manager Mary needs him to finish a prototype design for project B. They both need to have their work done in four weeks.

You ask Eric if it is possible to get both tasks done in four weeks. Eric says, “Yeah, but it is going to be tight and I still have some problems to work out with the prototype design.”

You know both projects are important. So, you tell Eric to dedicate his mornings to Project A and the afternoons to Project B. You promise to protect him from further interruptions. You remind him that both projects are important and we just have to get them both done on time.

Bob now has uninterrupted time in the morning for Project A and uninterrupted time in the afternoon for Project B. You are a clever manager!

Let's multitask and hope for the best!

But, I’m not going to let you off the hook that easy. You are still asking Bob to multitask. And by stretching both projects out right up to the deadline, now you have introduced the possibility that both projects will be late!

Sure splitting the work between morning and afternoon is better than just telling Eric to go back to his desk and stop complaining. But, Eric has already told you there is risk lurking in the prototype for Project B. And what if Project A takes longer than he expects?

Let’s say instead of relying on the myth of multitasking, you consult with Bob and Mary and are able to make a consensus decision that Project A is higher priority. If Eric’s original time estimates are correct, he will still have time to get Project B done on time. If not, at least the highest priority project is served on time.

Prioritize and get something done!

Multitasking doesn’t work as well as we’d like to believe. Give your team the best chance of success by setting up project time and by prioritizing their work. You will get more done and have a better shot at hitting your market launch date too.