The Urban Myth - Multi-tasking
Today, corporate executives and
managers are perpetually laden with huge amount of work and responsibilities. It isn't enough. All assigned work must be done with blinding speed and expected qualities. The push for increasing shareholders' value, higher stock indexes have compelled companies to stay lean in resources but thick in profit. So what would that lead too? It doesn't take a scientist to realize all those stuff contributes to faster burning out rates among white collar workers.
The quest for corporate success has no doubt created the problem of high burning out rates. To exacerbate the problem, white collar workers are urged by their highly paid CEOs to do more with less, to maximize your time. With no introduction needed, you would have heard of this common corporate meme, be like an octopus, a.k.a. learn to multi-task.
These management memes have entrenched deeply into the minds of white collar workers of the modern days.
Please don't get the wrong idea that I am advocating tardiness and unwillingness. There is no problem with being efficient at performing tasks or discharging responsibilities. The problem lies with inaccurate thinking or beliefs.
(Picture on right is taken from: http://www.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/octopus-final.png)
The quest for corporate success has no doubt created the problem of high burning out rates. To exacerbate the problem, white collar workers are urged by their highly paid CEOs to do more with less, to maximize your time. With no introduction needed, you would have heard of this common corporate meme, be like an octopus, a.k.a. learn to multi-task.
These management memes have entrenched deeply into the minds of white collar workers of the modern days.
Please don't get the wrong idea that I am advocating tardiness and unwillingness. There is no problem with being efficient at performing tasks or discharging responsibilities. The problem lies with inaccurate thinking or beliefs.
(Picture on right is taken from: http://www.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/octopus-final.png)
When we carry tasks, we will think of the processes required to attain our desired goals. Invariably, it is safe to say that quality thinking can lead to quality actions, and naturally to quality
results. It suggests the importance accurate thinking. What we think we are, we become. Agree?
What if our thinking isn't accurate? Anchoring on wrong beliefs? Harboring incorrect assumptions?
What if our thinking isn't accurate? Anchoring on wrong beliefs? Harboring incorrect assumptions?
Prior to the dawn of internet, we lead simpler lives. We write letters that take days or weeks to reach our recipients. We don't means to double-confirm or switch our meetings at the eleventh hours. We simply make effort to be there for each other.
We have less things to demand our attention. Our work stopped at 1700hrs daily. Customers are aware that we need time to response. We were more patience. That was how I remembered it.
We have less things to demand our attention. Our work stopped at 1700hrs daily. Customers are aware that we need time to response. We were more patience. That was how I remembered it.
Today,
we can be chatting with someone through internet without knowing the respondent’s true identity or real gender. Socializing like making friends have taken on a brand new meaning. The purposes of chatting has transformed. The internet also allows us to perform numerous transactions
that we would normally need to schedule time to attend to them in the
past. Banking and shopping are two perfect examples.
Apparently these conveniences should improve our lives. Within a second, our mails can be delivered to numerous recipients. Days have been saved. However, did we garner
more time in our hands as a result?
With internet, you could perform the followings,
With internet, you could perform the followings,
- Work from home
- Respond to emails
- Pay bills
- Chat with friends
- Downloading stuff
- Shopping
What is Multi-tasking?
In order to surface the essence of multi-tasking, it is essential to understand CPUs and Juggling.
I received education in engineering in my university days. The phrase multi-task was synonymous to signal processing. Central Processing Units a.k.a. CPU exist to process signals.
Out of curiosity I learn to juggle. However with my limited motor skills, I didn't go beyond three items.
CPUs and juggling may appear to be poles apart but the fundamentals that govern CPU and juggling will converge at the definition of multi-tasking.
I received education in engineering in my university days. The phrase multi-task was synonymous to signal processing. Central Processing Units a.k.a. CPU exist to process signals.
Out of curiosity I learn to juggle. However with my limited motor skills, I didn't go beyond three items.
CPUs and juggling may appear to be poles apart but the fundamentals that govern CPU and juggling will converge at the definition of multi-tasking.
About CPUs; we know that all computers are driven by CPUs which is the brain of computer system.
The most illuminated feature of a CPU is its ability to compute
numerous operations simultaneously. This non-negotiable feature is
fundamental and expected. Consumer will not part with his or her money
unless this is fulfilled.Would you purchase a computer system that computes one operation at a time? I suspect most people did ... unknowingly.
Interestingly, here’s what Wikipedia says about CPU in relation to mutli-tasking.
“In
computing, multi-tasking is a method by which multiple tasks, also known
as processes, share common processing resources such as a CPU. In the
case of a computer with a single CPU, only one task is said to be
running at any point in time, meaning that the CPU is actively executing
instructions for that task. Multi-tasking solves the problem by
scheduling which task may be the one running at any given time, and when
another waiting task gets a turn. The act of reassigning a CPU from one
task to another one is called a context switch. When context
switches occur frequently enough, the illusion of parallelism is
achieved. Even on computers with more than one CPU (called
multiprocessor machines), each processor still takes on one task at a
time”
Have we all bought the wrong computers or we simply started off with some common but inaccurate assumptions (thinking)?
About juggling; the phrase multi-tasking is synonymous to juggling. Let’s
see if everything actually happens at the same time?
Wikipedia says this about juggling.
Wikipedia says this about juggling.
“Juggling
is a physical human skill involving the movement of one or more
objects, usually through the air, for entertainment (see object
manipulation). The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling,
where the juggler throws objects through the air. Jugglers often refer
to the objects they juggle as props. The most common props are balls,
beanbags, rings, clubs, and bouncing balls. Some performers use dramatic
objects such as chainsaws, knives and fire torches. The term juggling
can also refer to other prop-based circus skills such as diabolo, devil
sticks, poi, cigar box manipulation, fire-dancing, contact juggling,
hooping and hat manipulation.(Picture on left is taken from: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQYIQ6llJSW1HiHKOAm7sC0C3WFqddUku9XhpSWHtow1aOJrQX7CGGnBIfpRomAiAJExpQtsFIdedJY1OM9WDYNNnwWN7vt8rBdxE9f36E0tO_iosc2MCg1lTR8gLFFhP7OJLDuRWB_c/s1600/juggle.jpg)
The
word juggling derives from the Middle English jogelen (to entertain by
performing tricks), in turn from the French jangleur and the Old French
jogler. There is also the Late Latin form joculare of Latin joculari,
meaning to jest. "Juggling" has come to mean, colloquially, any activity
which requires a constant refocusing of one's attention from an overall
goal to multiple subsidiary tasks, for example "Juggling Work and
Family", the title of a PBS documentary. This colloquial meaning is
similar to the non-computer use of the word multi-tasking.”
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juggling
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juggling
In juggling, objects are air-bonded for a short while. Likewise, objects remain in the hands of the juggler for a short moment as well. No matter how many objects are air-bonded, there will be only one object in each hand at any point of time during juggling.
No known juggler is able to handle beyond one object in one hand whilst juggling. If this is true, jugglers are not actually multi-tasking. It would be more accurate to describe it as sequencing the objects.
No known juggler is able to handle beyond one object in one hand whilst juggling. If this is true, jugglers are not actually multi-tasking. It would be more accurate to describe it as sequencing the objects.
While CPU and juggling are very different things but they shared a common underpinning fundamental, that is "one at a time" which is dramatically different from the assumed meaning of multi-tasking.
What
about human multi-tasking? During our education and career pursuit, it is common to be told that we can do many things simultaneously and it is
valuable ability.
Here’re another excerpt from Wikipedia on human multi-tasking.
“Since
the 1990s, experimental psychologists have started experiments on the
nature and limits of human multi-tasking. It has been proven multi-tasking
is not as workable as concentrated times. In general, these studies
have disclosed that people show severe interference when even very
simple tasks are performed at the same time, if both tasks require
selecting and producing action (e.g., Gladstones, Regan, & Lee,
1989; Pashler, 1994). Many researchers believe that action planning
represents a "bottleneck", which the human brain can only perform one
task at a time.”
I
hope the above has given you some food for thoughts about multi-tasking. For CPU, the essence of performing numerous
amounts of operations lies in scheduling and context switching. As for
juggling, it is about handing one object at one time coupled with a
rhythmic duration and pattern to it.
The truth about multi-tasking is not performing tasks simultaneously but exercising the correct discipline and accuracy to sequence the many tasks we wish to accomplish. So the truth about success in multi-tasking lies in prioritizing.
When we make attempts to prioritize, it also makes us think about the details of the various tasks hence enabling us to make better decisions to focus our energy and time onto the tasks that are worth our while. Believe that accurate thinking produces accurate results.
The truth about multi-tasking is not performing tasks simultaneously but exercising the correct discipline and accuracy to sequence the many tasks we wish to accomplish. So the truth about success in multi-tasking lies in prioritizing.
When we make attempts to prioritize, it also makes us think about the details of the various tasks hence enabling us to make better decisions to focus our energy and time onto the tasks that are worth our while. Believe that accurate thinking produces accurate results.
What really Multi-tasking is?
If
you have experienced difficulty when you try to multi-task or you attained unwanted results because you have multi-tasked, you are likely not alone.
I hope this article has already helped you. If you are in the capacity to make decisions that may influence many workers, it is probably worthwhile to frame their minds accurately before sending them on a vicious cycle. However, your workers will not yield accurate results unless your belief is accurate.
Some common errors committed by most decision makers are they almost would want all the tasks to be done yesterday or they want all projects to be implemented at the same time.
Your workers will be choked not by the tasks but the way these tasks were delegated. The eventuality is not accomplishing them or at best you get mediocre work standards. Remember CPU does context switching and a juggler handles one object at one time. Prioritize your tasks, don't "octopusify" your workers or yourself.
The root cause points back to inaccurate thinking. What we think we are, we become….
I hope this article has already helped you. If you are in the capacity to make decisions that may influence many workers, it is probably worthwhile to frame their minds accurately before sending them on a vicious cycle. However, your workers will not yield accurate results unless your belief is accurate.
Some common errors committed by most decision makers are they almost would want all the tasks to be done yesterday or they want all projects to be implemented at the same time.
Your workers will be choked not by the tasks but the way these tasks were delegated. The eventuality is not accomplishing them or at best you get mediocre work standards. Remember CPU does context switching and a juggler handles one object at one time. Prioritize your tasks, don't "octopusify" your workers or yourself.
The root cause points back to inaccurate thinking. What we think we are, we become….
--End of article no 1--
