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    The Myth of Multitasking: How "Doing It All" Gets Nothing Done
    The Myth of Multitasking: How "Doing It All" Gets Nothing Done
    The Myth of Multitasking: How "Doing It All" Gets Nothing Done
    Ebook110 pages1 hour

    The Myth of Multitasking: How "Doing It All" Gets Nothing Done

    By Dave Crenshaw

    3.5/5

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    About this ebook

    In a compelling business fable, The Myth of Multitasking confronts a popular idea that has come to define our hectic, work-a-day world. This simple yet powerful book shows clearly why multitasking is, in fact, a lie that wastes time and costs money. Far from being efficient, multitasking actually damages productivity and relationships at work and at home.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherWiley
    Release dateJun 17, 2010
    ISBN9780470893487
    The Myth of Multitasking: How "Doing It All" Gets Nothing Done

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    Reviews for The Myth of Multitasking

    3.5/5

    25 ratings5 reviews

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    • 3/5
      A little simplistic but makes some excellent points about how we use our time and the cost of switching our attention.
    • 5/5
      I read the Myth of Multitasking while I sous vide a turkey breast on a snowy day. So was I multitasking?

      No! I was background tasking!

      That’s one takeaway from the book. You’ll learn the distinction between multitasking, switchtasking, and background tasking. And while you’re learning some of these technical differences, you’ll also discover how to manage your calendar and increase your productivity.

      While the turkey simmered, I put my feet up and read this enjoyable little business story in about an hour. Short and sweet, the book covers valuable productivity principles. It shares eye-opening insights on how to enjoy richer relationships and a more relaxed life, as well.

      Best of all, it does so in story form. The author leads you through a client/ consultant relationship. Since the best teachers show more than tell, this approach is both effective and engaging.

      A great little book, and a terrific way to spend my time on a snowy afternoon.
    • 3/5
      A quick read, it feels more like a series on a productivity blog than a book, but gets the point across and offers some good examples and strategies.
    • 3/5
      Interesting idea, not much detail as to how to make it work.
    • 4/5
      I typically really dislike fable-type books, but this one was a pleasant surprise. It tells the concise story of a business leader who 'multitasks,' only to discover that what she's really doing is called 'switchtasking' and 'background tasking' and that none of us are capable of truly multitasking. The big take-away for me was that multi-tasking is impossible for us to actually do... similar to the fact that it is impossible for a computer to do, but it seems like it is 'working' on more than one program/task at a time, but the microprocessor (the brains of the computer) is actually switching back and forth between the two or more things. When we 'switch-task,' which is what we actually do when we think we're working on more than one thing at a time, it slows us down, makes us less efficient, and can sometimes hurt relationships (think of when you're having a meal with a friend and they pick up that call on their cell phone). Sometimes what we do is 'background task.' That's when we listen to music while we work out, or watch TV while ironing (ok. I never do that second one, but I'm sure some people do). Background tasking is ok, as long as what we're needing to accomplish is 'mindless.' A lot of what the book had to say, I already knew. It is presented in a concise story format and will make me re-think some things. Crenshaw also includes tools in the back of the book to help you implement the principles he communicates in this short book.

    Book preview

    The Myth of Multitasking - Dave Crenshaw

    THE COMPANY

    Phil glanced at the digital clock on his sedan. It read 8:54 A.M. He nodded to himself in satisfaction at being several minutes early. He had learned years ago that if he was going to teach efficiency and time management to others, he had better be living it himself.

    After grabbing his briefcase, Phil opened his car door and stepped out. He turned and looked up at the sign on the sprawling building that proudly proclaimed GREENGARB: CLOTHES MOTHER NATURE INTENDED.

    Phil had done his research about his new coaching client. Helen Whitman had been an influential executive in a large retail clothing chain for nearly a decade. Just a few years ago, however, she recognized the trend toward eco-friendly products and decided to make the jump into entrepreneurship. Last year, GreenGarb boasted sales of over $20 million and was heading for even greater growth.

    Despite the success—or more likely because of it—Helen had hit a brick wall. After a bit of burnout, Helen had contacted a few close friends, asking for a referral to someone who could help.

    As Phil walked toward the building, he reflected on his first conversation with Helen. Her situation was all too familiar. While the company sizes and industries of Phil’s clients varied greatly, their stories were echoes of each other. His clients were stressed out, overworked, and underpaid. They were finding themselves with more and more to do at work and less and less time for their family and other personal life.

    These business owners all came to Phil for help. They were looking for someone who understood that it was lonely at the top. They were looking for someone who could help them make the behavior corrections that would get them more time and less stress.

    Helen’s company was unique, but her story was the same.

    As he walked through the front door of the building, Phil was greeted by a receptionist with a no- nonsense look about her. Phil found his mouth a little dry as he spoke up.

    I’m here to see Helen.

    The receptionist looked up. Do you have an appointment?

    Yes. Yes, I do.

    Just a moment. The receptionist pressed the intercom button and politely said, Ms. Whitman? There is a gentleman here at the front who says he has an appointment with you. After listening to the response, she said, Please follow me.

    As Phil followed the receptionist down the hall, he glanced in each direction and noticed the offices of the company managers. There was a general feeling of controlled chaos on all sides. A few desks appeared organized, but most offices had piles of papers on the desk that occasionally flowed onto the floor. People walked in and out of the offices in a hurry, speaking in brisk, determined tones to each other.

    Phil had certainly seen this before. Just by looking into the offices of the company managers, Phil grew a bit more comfortable. He knew what to expect when he walked into Helen’s office. In fact, he knew what to expect from Helen. The common saying was true: the business truly is a reflection of its owner.

    THE OWNER

    The situation in the CEO’s office was just short of chaos. A woman with glasses shot him a glance as if to say, If you’ re here for Helen, wait in line. Phil smiled. Helen waved Phil in and gestured to an open chair. Please, come in and have a seat. We’ re just finishing up.

    Phil moved to the chair and considered the scene carefully. Two men whom Phil guessed were managers were sitting at the small conference table with Helen.

    The woman with glasses stood impatiently, watching the proceedings. It was obvious to Phil she was not part of the conversation and was eager for a moment to catch Helen’s ear. Phil watched her with curiosity. She was biting her lower lip just slightly, trying to contain herself.

    Finally the managers completed their conversation with Helen and stood up from the table.

    Helen turned to the woman, displaying a bit of her own impatience. Yes, Sally, what is it? As Sally began speaking, Helen turned to Phil and interjected, This will take just a moment, I’ m sorry.

    Sally sighed audibly.

    No need to be sorry, Phil replied. He could sense the tension in the room and was doing his best to diffuse it. Helen turned back to Sally and shot a controlled, Go.

    I wish we could have talked about this before you went into that meeting. I have a supplier in Kansas who is chomping at the bit. He wants to know if you approved the change in color from khaki to light tan.

    Now Helen bit her bottom lip. She was clearly attempting to control her emotions. Sally, I talked to him yesterday and told him everything he needed to know.

    So what is the answer?

    "Tell him again that light tan is fine. Delaying our shipment is not!"

    Got it. Um . . . Sally stood motionless in front of Helen. Phil could tell she was going through her memory to find something to tell Helen.

    Yes?

    Sudden recognition flashed across Sally’s face. Did you get to the designs I sent to you yesterday?

    Helen sighed. No, Sally. I haven’t. I’ve been buried. I’m trying to do a million things. I’ll get to it sometime today.

    Sally shrugged. Fine. She turned and left abruptly.

    Sally? Helen called out.

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