Modern technology’s fantastic. It enables us to send and receive information faster than ever before, as well us letting us work while on the move.

But with all these benefits comes the danger of being swamped by information which can distract us from focusing on the most important tasks in hand.

Have you ever felt like you’ve been rushed off your feet all day, while at the same time being frustrated that you’ve only achieved half of what you planned to?

It could be that you’re falling victim to the perils of multitasking.

So what are the dangers?

The risks of trying to keep too many plates spinning at one time are two-fold: firstly, you may find yourself wasting time rushing between those plates and trying to keep them all up; secondly, your creativity can be hampered by dividing attention between too many tasks.

The problem stems from the fact that our brains are designed to focus on one thing at a time – we work best when we do one task properly, re-focus on another one, complete that one, move on the next, and so on. When we try and do several things concurrently, errors creep in and each task takes longer to do. We may be able to complete several simple tasks at a time, but it’s much harder to carry out complex tasks in parallel.

And if you regard yourself as a good multi-tasker you should know that research by McKinsey shows that, contrary to popular belief, frequent multi-taskers are usually the least productive!

Regarding creativity, research also shows that we innovate and think better when we concentrate in depth on one project, rather than flitting between two or more. It helps us make the mental connections we need to reach a conclusion we may not have found otherwise.

Despite this, the distraction provided by modern technology can become addictive. How many of us will instantly reach for the mobile when it rings or beeps, even if we’re deep in thought on something else?

A bit of self-coaching

Coaching is a great way to help leaders reflect on their own style and approach in order to increase their personal performance and effectiveness. So, here is a small selection of self-coaching questions that may help you reflect on your own situation, and prompt some changes in your approach.

• How well are my diary and daily appointments structured to enable me to devote enough time to my most important and thought-heavy tasks?
• How often am I being distracted from these tasks by other, less important jobs, which I could stop doing or delegate to someone else?
• Do I have sufficient time in the day where I can be on my own, uninterrupted by anything else, devoted to thought and consideration?
• Are my email, phone systems and other communications devices set up to enable me to concentrate and focus on the job in hand?

Value your time

As ever, it’s about working smarter, not harder. It is about taking control of your time, rather than allowing events to take control of your precious time. I encourage business leaders to value their time and recognise the benefits of making space in the day for quality thought, focused on those tasks which only they can do.

What is your experience with “the perils of multitasking”? Please share any effective strategies that helped you improve your situation.