Switch Tasking vs. Multitasking
While doing research on multi-tasking I came across the term “switch tasking” in a book written by Dave Crenshaw. He states in his book, The myth of multitasking:
“When most people refer to multitasking, they are really talking about switch tasking. No matter how they do it, switching rapidly between two things is just not very efficient or effective.” (Crenshaw, 2013)
Throughout our lives we’ve heard the term multitasking. Well, I’m here to tell you that multitasking isn’t what you think it is. Yes, it is doing multiple tasks at once but there’s more to it. Multitasking is doing multiple tasks at once but they’re related to the same outcome. The phrase “but they’re related to the same outcome” is a crucial part to the definition. It’s also plays a big part in the mastering of the skill that most people seem to disregard. The example given by Kunal Gupta in his article was driving a car.
“Driving a car involves checking the rearview mirror, watching the odometer, looking at the side mirrors, checking blind spots, oh and watching the road ahead of you through the windshield.” (Gupta, 2016)
In driving a car you are multitasking because all the tasks you are performing are to satisfy one goal — to safely reach your destination. In doing research, I learned that multitasking isn’t the problem! The problem is switch tasking. Switch tasking is doing multiple different tasks that aren’t directly related to the same outcome. The problem with switch tasking is that your attention is being given to multiple tasks. An example of switch tasking is going from reading an article to checking your emails to eating lunch, to checking Facebook.
I was mind blown when I realized that the skill I thought I was trying to master wasn’t actually the skill I that I was researching. When people refer to multitasking they are actually talking about switch tasking. Switch tasking isn’t a desired skill by employers. Employers want to know if you can multi-task, as in complete several related tasks that lead to the same outcome.
Now that I know the exact definition of multitasking I can do better research on this skill and experiment effectively.
Works Cited
Crenshaw, D. (2013). The myth of multitasking. San Francisco, Calif.: Jossey-Bass.
Gupta, K. (2016). You’re Not Multitasking; Why Switch-Tasking Is Ruining Your Productivity — Polar. [online] Polar. Available at: https://polar.me/blog/youre-not-multitasking-switch-tasking-ruining-productivity/ [Accessed 28 Feb. 2018].
