|
THE ART OF MULTITASKING: IS IT POSSIBLE TO MULTITASK?
THE ART OF MULTITASKING: IS IT POSSIBLE TO MULTITASK? Multitasking can be defined as the ability to perform various, (usually two or more) and often unrelated tasks efficiently, all at the same time.Women are believed to be naturals at the art of multitasking – stemming from their historical role in the household – where they would have to attend to the children – bath, clothe, feed, entertain, teach, stimulate, discipline and protect them while going about household chores at the same time. Most men can only manage one of these tasks at a time. Think disaster. This is why some experts argue that, women became ‘housewives’ or ‘housekeepers’ not because of their inability (or men’s abilities for that matter) in doing formal work and providing for their families, but rather because they could do better than men in the home front. It is no surprise therefore that women today hold their own in the boardroom and are often better suited to certain careers and/or tasks than men. THE ART OF MULTITASKING - LEARNING MULTITASKING SKILLSBut does multitasking apply to the work environment? Notwithstanding the weight given to the ability to multitask by hiring institutions, this is still a very debatable issue. There are two schools of thought on this issue. One is that multitasking can be done efficiently, saving time and increasing the bottom line of organizations. The other school of thought is that it is all a fad – one cannot focus exceptionally well on more than one task at the same time, and that one of the tasks is bound to be compromised. It is like the issue of serving two masters at the same time. The jury is still out on this topic. Whatever the truth is, I would really like the views of both men and women on multitasking and how their arguments also hold true for promiscuity. But that is just me.
|
