Myth, by definition, is an idea or story which many people believe but that does not exist or is false. It is also what one is made to believe through persistent indoctrination and myths, generally, are unquestionable ‘holy cows’. I am fully cognizant of quite a feathers I may end up ruffling with my choice of words…now that I have your attention, let me steer right away to the topic of this blog.
Multi-tasking is, being defined as, the ability to perform multiple tasks at the same time or simultaneously.
How??!!
Even jugglers handle, at best, only 2 balls at a time and rest are in air!
Even the sophisticated circuits in some of the best computing devices have not been able to crack this ‘doing simulatenously’ puzzle and end up doing tasks within gap of nano or even lower seconds but NOT SIMULTANEOUSLY for sure!!
Then why is so much importance lent to this ‘multi-tasking’ skill or competence? If it doesn’t exists why do we continue to fool ourselves into seeking it in every sphere of our lives?
And if it ‘must’ exist, then in what shape and form is it expected to be exhibited?
Take a step back, visualise the juggler performing his act. We are instantly drawn into his ability of deftly handling multiple balls/objects without dropping any of them.
But zoom in and reflect on what you see…Just 1 or max. 2 ball reaches his hands at same time while the rest are in air – this is achieved by perfecting the timing of each throw, distance the ball would travel, speed or thrust given to the throw and so on….essentially well planned and practiced, isn’t it! So finally it’s a well orchestrated act of art and some science as well!
Next, objects are generally chosen by the juggler. Next time try handing over objects from the audience. No matter even if it were the same type of objects, the juggler would prefer using his/her objects only. Needless to say this is due to the hours, days, months of practice that’s gone into perfecting the act with ‘these specific’ objects!
Worth noting that the objects and the acts are repetitive…repeated in every show! Rarely do we come across new acts and even if they do it’s 2-3 additions over a year!
Lastly, nice peppy music always plays in the background to not just get then audience join in the cheer fest but also help the juggler concentrate at work on hand!
So it’s all about choosing your objects (tasks), practicing to perfection (plan, execute, review and feedback) and stay focused on work on hand. Mind you this can happen and benefit, only if tasks are repetitive in nature. No one dare multi-task during brainstorming sessions, design thinking workshops, strategy meets and the likes.
There is this something all of us would have experienced or observed – People answering calls or responding to emails / texts whilst being, let’s say, in a training program or workshop or some important meeting – and they claim this to be multi-tasking?! Sometimes we end up appreciating such acts as well (really)…Is it multi-tasking?
Nope, this is ‘distractive tasking’ if there was liberty to coin such a term! By doing this one has neither done justice to the content being shared in meeting / training nor reflected well enough before responding to that email in a hurry!
So why do we get pulled into believing it, multi-tasking, exists and that one needs to exhibit it all the time?
That’s why I called it a ‘myth’ – you know it’s doesn’t exist but still want to believe it, attempt/pretend to be practising it and doing your bit to ensure others do too!
Efficiency is an important barometer to assess how close one actually gets to multi-tasking and this efficiency is in terms of sequencing, planning, executing seamlessly.
A good but effective example would be the Mumbai film industry actors in 70s-80s when they would work in shifts and across multiple movie sets. Every time they would come on set they would instantly get into physical (including costume and makeup) and mental frame of the character requirement of that set. Switch off from all other roles being played by them at that time. Focus on what’s on hand. This ability to toggle between reel worlds can easily be emulated in real as well. Just follow these simple steps – switch off and on at will, get into character for task at hand and stay focused till it’s done!
Until the director calls it pack up!
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