Few jobs don’t require multitasking skills, and few employees can have the luxury of focusing on just one task in today’s business world. Most jobs require employees to be able to balance multiple tasks that compete for their energy and time. Employers expect their employees to improve their multiple priorities.
So when searching for a job opportunity or applying for various jobs, keep in mind that employers want to know if you are able to successfully perform several tasks at the same time. Here, you must be willing to share with them examples of this skill, whether during a job interview or through your CV. So let’s get to know more about this important skill and the most important ways to help you acquire and develop it.
What is multitasking?
Multitasking skills express the ability to carry out various work activities at the same time and to distribute focus between more than one task at the same time.
As a result of effective multitasking, the employee is able to fulfill work requirements and serve more than one client or customer at the same time with the same efficiency and quality without making any mistakes.
Examples of multitasking in different jobs
This skill is widespread in various jobs and professions, and almost any field of business is devoid of it. Here are some examples of multitasking skills in various jobs and life situations:
- Answering the phone and greeting customers at the front desk of a company.
- Working on three graphic design projects at the same time, at different stages.
- Processing five food orders at the same time.
- Designing a new website and updating other websites at the same time.
- Disciplining a student in class while explaining a lesson.
- Driving a car and talking to the person sitting next to the driver’s seat.
- Managing a number of social media accounts and working on an email marketing project at the same time.
- Monitoring the air traffic situation while flying the aircraft.
- Edit a press release and work on preparing for a marketing event at the same time.
Multitasking: Fact or Myth?
Multitasking is often linked to higher productivity, and many believe that multitasking contributes to improving performance, but many studies have shown that multitasking is nothing but a myth, and that what we imagine as performing several tasks at the same time is nothing but a process of dividing time. and sharing it among several tasks. While a computer can perform many tasks at the same time, the human brain works in a different way.
Dr. Art Markman, a cognitive psychologist, says that what the brain is doing while multitasking is actually a time-sharing process, as follows: “The brain can only focus on one task at a time, so you focus on a specific task, and then you shift your focus to another task.” Others, just as several people take turns staying to guard a property, say, “the process of shifting focus from one task to another is so rapid, you don’t feel it, but what you’re really doing is the process of sharing your time between several different tasks.”
Whether multitasking is a fact or a myth, and whether it expresses the performance of more than one task at the same time or the distribution of a period of time on several different tasks, it is a skill that employers definitely want you to possess. So how can you, as an employee, develop your ability to move quickly between tasks? Fortunately, we have some tips to help you.
How do I improve my multitasking skills?
Here are a set of practical ways and steps to help you develop your ability to share your time between different tasks, or what others see as a multitasking skill.
1- Make a to-do list.
Although it is crystal clear, many employees neglect the importance of preparing a to-do list. The deadlines for handing over tasks and their overlapping and multiplicity make the process of determining what one should do impossible for the brain.
Then make sure to make a list of daily tasks that you must complete, as it will help you remember the important tasks and stay alert for the upcoming due dates. You can use a number of specialized applications and programs in this regard, and you can also write your to-do list manually, but in all cases we advise you to keep this list close to you so that you can always see it and do not forget anything from it.
2- Set your priorities.
Setting and arranging priorities is the first step to success. Most successful businessmen are able to maintain a healthy work-life balance because they know how much time they need to devote to each task.Remember that your life doesn’t have to be about work and work only. You must enjoy your time sometimes and create a balance between your life and work.
If you were able to arrange your priorities, determine the most important and the least important, and then distribute them to the days of the week and commit to implementing them in a timely manner, you will find that you have become more able to accomplish more tasks in a short time and thus obtain more time for rest and recuperation.
3- Work on similar tasks.
One successful way to move between tasks easily is to work on tasks that are similar to or related to one another. Whereas, in the event of working on several different or divergent tasks, the chance of losing focus and wasting more time increases. So always try to do similar tasks together because it will be easier to shift your focus between them and the probability of getting them right will be higher.
4- Avoid distractions.
If you want to get your work done in the best way possible, you must avoid everything that distracts you, especially when multitasking, as this process takes a lot of your energy, and if there is something that distracts you, it will become more stressful. Find a suitable place to work as you wish without any disturbances, interruptions, or sounds.
It is true that some do not mind working with an acceptable degree of noise and sounds around them, but the majority agree that the constant interruptions exhaust their focus and reduce their productivity and performance. You can also use music to help you disconnect from your surroundings and focus better.or find a quieter place. In any case, it is up to you. Choose the right work atmosphere for you and try to create it every time you work.
5- Assign all tasks to others.
In the end, we remain humans, and sometimes we cannot complete all tasks at one time, so the importance of assigning some tasks to others appears here. This step allows you to focus 100% on the most important tasks. Assigning tasks does not mean that you lack the necessary competence or skill; on the contrary, it indicates that you know your capabilities and energies well and are aware of your limitations. This step also indicates your willingness to share the work pressure, which often leads to increased productivity. And complete a greater number of tasks in a shorter amount of time.
6- Make this skill a habit.
Habits have a very powerful impact on not only our daily routine but our health and mood as well. Just as smoking, for example, is a bad habit that affects the health and mood of its owner, multitasking can become a positive habit that brings us higher productivity and better performance.
Train your mind to move its focus from one task to another quickly by performing a greater number of tasks at the same time, and with the passage of time and the repetition of the process, it will become a natural habit that you do automatically.
7- Take a time out to review your assignments.
One of the main dangers of multitasking is that it directly affects your memory. And memory is fundamental, on which your efficiency and performance depend. Let’s say you have to work on some important files during a hard day filled with other tasks. You may be able to complete this task in time along with a number of other tasks, but it is also a good idea to take another look at it at the end of the day after you have finished all your work, as this step allows you to correct any mistakes that you did not notice. And it helps you avoid making the same mistake in the future, which increases your efficiency during the completion of multiple tasks.
8- Plan your business in advance.
To do better and get more done, start by working on the most demanding tasks. Then fill in the gaps between these tasks with other tasks that are shorter and less time- and effort-consuming. Set aside some extra time to finish these tasks and plan for them before you begin.
Always remember that when employers emphasize the skill of multitasking, what they really mean is the ability to arrange different priorities within the specified time period. You will not be able to reach this conclusion unless you plan ahead of time how you will complete these tasks. Always make a clear plan for the duties that have been assigned to you, and do not start working directly without knowing the next step that you must take. So do you consider yourself a good multitasker? Or do you need more training and practice to get to this point? Wherever you are now, don’t worry; you can always improve and develop with some practice and a lot of will and determination to get ahead. Our final tip for you is how to express this skill on your resume.
Don’t just mention the fact that you’re a good multitasker, but give examples that support your statement, such as how you managed to work on several projects in previous jobs, during your college years, or in your private life.
Read also: What are communication skills and how can you develop them?
