مصطلح تعدد المهام It means performing more than one task or activity at a time and continually switching between them. This can have a negative impact

on your productivity at work. Notably, numerous studies have examined the effects of multitasking on the mind and on

productivity.

وتوصلت دراسة علمية أجريت في جامعة “ستانفورد” الأمريكية عام 2009 إلى أن الأشخاص متعددي المهام واجهوا صعوبة في التنقل بين مهمة

and others, and their level of mental organization was also lower than that of their peers. Since then, more studies and research have emerged supporting the idea that تعدد المهام

may not be the best way to get as many tasks done as possible throughout the day. In general, it comes down to our ability to focus: we are more effective

when we focus our attention on one thing. A recent scientific study concluded that focusing on more than one task at a time hinders an employee’s ability to perform

their work effectively, which may lead to losses for the company or organization they work for.

وفي السياق ذاته، أشار تقرير نشره موقع “Business News Daily” إلى أن العديد من الأشخاص يعتقدون أن تعدد المهام يعني التركيز على

more than one task at a time. This is actually impossible; what really happens is that you shift your attention or focus from one task to another every few seconds,

Without being fully focused on a single task.

It’s worth noting that these views on multitasking mainly apply to work tasks that require your full concentration. In other

situations, you can do more than one thing at a time without it affecting you. For example, you can eat while walking without any problem, or do some

chores at home while watching TV. But if, for instance, you’re on a call with a client while checking your email and talking to a colleague,

that can lead to confusion and mistakes. The nature of the situation generally determines when it’s appropriate to handle more than one task at a time,

and when you should focus on just one thing.

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How does multitasking affect productivity?

Our brains can’t handle many complex tasks at once. And with smartphones now so widespread and almost inseparable

from our daily lives, you’re more likely to find yourself texting or listening to music while working, which could undermine

your productivity.

Multitasking can also hurt your efficiency at work for several reasons, من بينها مثلاً أن التبديل بين المهام قد يستغرق بعض الوقت، فضلاً

repeatedly shifting between the information and details for each task can lead to mistakes. The report also found that

Multitasking lowers IQ by 15 points during cognitive tasks, and also reduces emotional intelligence and brain density over time.

The report also emphasized that when people try to complete several tasks quickly and at the same time, the results are usually poor across the board. For example,

the quality of the work is usually below expectations, and a lack of focus and switching between tasks lead to more mistakes. Multitasking can also affect

the ability to be creative and make sound decisions about workflow. In addition, it increases employees’ feelings of stress and pressure—in other words,

it has a negative impact on both individuals and organizations.

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How can you work more efficiently and boost your productivity?

As the points above show, trying to handle several complex tasks at once is not the best way to get more done. On the contrary, this approach

They negatively affect productivity. The first step to improving your productivity is to make a list of the tasks you need to complete and rank them by

importance. Set a deadline for completing them, then focus fully on one specific task.

The second step is to avoid or minimize distractions as much as possible. It’s important to keep your attention on the work you’re

doing, without getting sidetracked by unnecessary things like your mobile phone or even email. You can set aside a specific time in your schedule

to reply to emails or personal messages.

If you need to turn your attention to another task, first write down the essential information and notes related to the task you

Finish it before moving on to another. This can help clear your mind of that information, even for a little while, so you can focus fully on

your next task without the details of the two tasks getting mixed up in your head. This step can reduce the likelihood of mistakes and make it easier

to complete your first task effectively when you return to it.

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How can you help your team avoid multitasking?

– فترات الراحة: 

One of the best ways to help your team avoid multitasking is to encourage them to take regular breaks. When an employee is

working without a break, stress may push them to take on multiple tasks at once, which can affect the quality of their work, as well as

Giving employees breaks during the workday helps improve productivity, focus, and creativity, and also helps reduce

feelings of stress.

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– المهام الإضافية:

Managers need to understand when it’s appropriate to assign employees additional work and when it isn’t. When managers

repeatedly assign non-urgent or low-priority tasks, it becomes harder for employees to complete their core work on time

and to the required standard, especially when deadlines for core tasks are tight.

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– سياسة الباب المفتوح:

It’s essential to build strong relationships with employees so they feel comfortable discussing their ideas, the projects they’re working on, and even their challenges.

with their manager at any time without worry. This is important because if employees feel exhausted and overwhelmed by their workload, and find it difficult to

talk to you to find a solution and prioritize their tasks, the quality and productivity of their work may fall short of your expectations. That’s why it’s best to adopt an open-door policy.

مع فريق عملك.