Multitasking: Your way to

the top
Many of us face problems at work as we often fail
to meet the deadlines or panic when we have too
much work on our hands. Yet there are those
who seem to be handling every task efficiently
and never fail to meet a deadline. We often feel
envious of such individuals and wonder why
these people are always ahead of us and are
able to complete their tasks with such efficiency and enthusiasm.

Ever wonder what their secret is? The answer is simple: multitasking. Anyone who is good at
multitasking can increase his work efficiency by almost a hundred percent. Many people have
the inborn talent for multitasking while others have to learn this art through trial and error.
Whatever the case may be, multitasking at work can save a lot of time and energy and help you
in achieving better results.

What Is Multitasking?
In very simple words, multitasking is handling multiple tasks at the same time without
compromising on a single task. The ability of handling multiple tasks at the same time makes
you more efficient and productive at work. For this precise reason, employers retain employees
who are good at multitasking and such individuals get more promotions as compared to their
peers who are not so good at multitasking.

Who Can Multi Task?

There are many people who consider that multitasking is an inborn talent that cannot be
acquired by practice. There is also a group of people who believe that women are naturally
better at multitasking then men. Both these schools of thoughts are wrong as anybody can learn
to multitask. While it is true that there are some people who are naturally good at multitasking,
there is nothing to say that multitasking cannot be learnt or acquired by practice.

The Basics of Multitasking:

Multitasking is not as difficult or complex as it sounds and one can learn to multitask by
following a few basic steps such as:
Organize:
In order to be able to multitask, the most important thing is that you need to be organized and
everything you are dealing with should be planned. If you are not organized you cannot
efficiently handle the tasks simultaneously and in the end you might end up wasting more time
in switching between tasks rather than saving time.

Prioritize:
You need to make a schedule and prioritize all the tasks that are at hand according to the level
of importance. When you have a scheduled list, you can very easily handle two or more tasks at
the same time without wasting any time at all.
Start With Simpler Tasks:
If you are new to multitasking, it is bets that you start with simpler tasks in the beginning as they
will be easier to handle. Trying to multi task on difficult projects can lead to failure and frustration
which might deter you from learning to multitask.

Finish Pending Jobs:

If you are working on a single or more jobs make sure that you finish them before turning to the
next one. If you leave jobs unfinished and start new tasks every other hour, at the end of the
day you will have worked very hard but not finished a single job. This destroys the essence of
multi tasking and wastes time rather than saving it.

Delegate Tasks:
A very important part of multitasking is delegating work to the team members. As a manager
you can distribute work efficiently to make sure that the results delivered are on time and up to
the mark. You need to realize that not all tasks can be accomplished by a single person so it is
important to share the burden.

Handle Tasks Without Delay:

If you wish to multitask, you need to be able to deal with each and every job as soon as it lands
on your desk. Do not leave tasks for later on if you have the time to get them done now. Leaving
jobs for later is never a good idea as it leads to work piling up and wasting more time in getting it
sorted.

Take A Break:
Even if you are trying to get used to multitasking, there is no harm in taking a break every now
and then as it will help in releasing the stress and when you are more relaxed you can deal with
the jobs at hand in a more efficient manner.

Split tasks into smaller jobs:

Some people find it hard to work on a big project as the task seems too daunting and huge. This
problem can be easily solved by breaking the task into smaller parts so that each part can be
dealt with as an individual job. This will help in improving your performance by teaching you how
to multitask and once you are done with the small tasks your big project is already completed.

The Down Side Of Multitasking:

While there are many benefits of multitasking, some people argue that there are also negative
aspects to multitasking. It is true that multitasking can be detrimental in some aspects, which is
why it is important to know when and how to multitask. Some of the common drawbacks of
multitasking include:

Stress:
When you are multitasking, be sure to know your limits as too much multitasking can be
stressful and lead to increase in job related stress. You need to take regular breaks and know
when to call it quits. Pushing yourself too hard to achieve the maximum possible results can
result to a burn out.
Lack Of Work-Home Balance:
Moreover it is important to retain a balanced approach in work and personal life as people who
are used to multitasking can get a bit carried away and loose this balance. People who multitask
often tend to become workaholics as they feel difficulty in detaching themselves from their work.

Conclusion:
Multitasking is work technique that helps you in performing better with effective time
management. Once you learn how to multitask effectively, you can progress in your career by
getting the maximum output from your time and effort. Make sure that you do not over do it, as
excess of everything is bad.