How To Get Better at Multi-Tasking

Let’s face it, some of us believe that multi-tasking hinders productivity. It is distracting, disorganizing and sometimes annoying. Some people don’t necessarily know how to utilize this skill for the better of their own self-organization. Some people consciously try to look at their own daily agenda one task at a time before moving onto another. A vast majority of us, consciously or subliminally, multi-task pretty much twenty-four-seven, for the lack of better ways of dealing with our fast-paced, time-limited, never-pausing daily routines.

Take a look at your everyday schedules: are you double-booked, over-booked, working late, through your lunches? A hamster in a wheel has got nothing on you? Yep, chances are you are a good, I beg you pardon, no, a very efficient multi-tasker! Here are some of the key points that I have noticed help me to keep track of, in order to get more organized whenever there is a need to multi-task:

1. See the big picture
To become better at multi-tasking it would be a good idea to see your priorities from the bird’s eye view. Knowing what needs to be done for the day in order to stay productive is the key factor in determining what and why certain tasks need to be doubled up and performed simultaneously.

2. Prioritize your tasks. Know your schedule and time constraints.
To keep track of your most important priorities and to get to the deadline within the specified time constraints – are the main elements for your productive framework. Whenever you foresee that any piece of your prioritized equation is off, figure out the way to multi-task whatever you are physically and/or mentally capable of.

3. Keep your most important task away from multi-tasking.
Certain important tasks, obviously, require more concentration and mental brain focus than others. The tasks that you know could directly affect your job safety, your compensation, and even promotion should be given all of your full and undivided attention. In those important scenarios try to leave your multi-tasking outside your work area – your work-related survival comes first!

4. Double check your multi-tasked work.
An ordinary human brain is not designed to perform several things at the same time. Let’s face it, very few of us have solid natural predispositions to multi-task efficiently. So, whenever you write that quick e-mail to your boss while on the phone with a client, make sure both tasks have been completed error-free and don’t result in any potential disasters.

SEE ALSO:

Importance of Continuous Development
10 Tips for A More Productive Day

5. Be aware of your time and physical surroundings.
How many of us have seen that woman in a driver’s seat putting her makeup on and talking on the phone at the same time at a red light? How many of us text while driving, admit it! While more and more states started to outlaw this type of multi-tasking behavior, we still seem to carry over our multi-tasking habits to other spheres of our hectic lives. My point is, go ahead and multi-task your life away, but please, don’t endanger yourself and/or others by multi-tasking unnecessarily and stupidly.

As always, please feel free to share you thoughts and opinions on how to get better at multi-tasking in a work place.

Article by Kamilla Kay, PMP. Follow her personal Blog here

[Post Tags:] multi-tasking, how to get better at multi-tasking, become better at multi-tasking, multi-tasking tips.

From: http://ping.fm/2fuIO