by Reed Robinson
WHAT’S HAPPENING
- You know the guy … the one writing a report, reading the news, checking Facebook, all while tuning in to his favorite Pandora station. We often wonder how he’s capable of such productivity. His secret: inefficiency.
- In a 2009 study, Stanford researchers tested two groups — regular multitaskers and non-multitaskers — in an attempt to identify cognitive differences in people capable of doing many things at once. It turns out that non-multitaskers scored higher in all three categories of the study: attention, memory and even work efficiency (Stanford.edu 8.24.09).
- Some scientists believe that multitasking can not only hurt productivity, but also damage the brain. The solution is simple: Focus on one thing at a time.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO BUSINESS
- For many Millennials, multitasking is an expression of work/life balance. Therefore, any attack on these so-called distractions may backfire against job satisfaction. On the other hand, as time becomes more of a scarcity, the right training can improve workplace efficiency.
- Be a part of the solution! Gadgets, websites and content that are both relevant and easy to use/digest should help attention-deficient consumers absorb valuable information in little time.
RESOURCES
- The Stanford study was published in the August 24, 2009, edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
