There are two running jokes in my family. One is an admitted clumsiness ala Chevy Chase playing Gerald Ford on SNL. The other is an absolute inability, according to my wife, to multitask. I often disagree but then tend to give in. We all want to be better at multitasking. Unfortunately some of us just aren't that good at it. In fact, science has proven that women are better multitaskers.
My wife's frustration aside, is multitasking really that important? Or is it more important to focus on, and master, individual tasks throughout the day? The professional sales world is an area where multitasking is counter-productive. The effective sales professional needs a unique ability to intensely focus on one task at a time.
A professional sales rep is task oriented with a singularity of purpose around specific activities that he or she is working on at that particular time. If I'm a sales manager the last thing I want is to stop by the desk of one of my reps during prospecting time and see eight different windows open on their computer as they're "multitasking" in between prospecting calls.
Naturally there's much more to the process than simply focusing on one singular activity. Once you focus on the activity and make it a priority to not multitask the next step is deep and systematic analysis of how effective you're managing your time. Schedule your day, collect data and break down your performance. If things need to be tweaked, tweak them. This type of personal process management can be done for any step of the sales process but works particularly well with prospecting. The framework you develop will help you master your game and make you infinitely more effective in the long-run.
The process of performance analysis can be translated to other facets of your daily life and workday. Driving efficiency will not only help you peak performance but will allow you master time management and will lead to better life balance. So stop the multitasking. Focus and master individual tasks.
Once individual tasks are mastered you'll become an effective multitasker. And you're wife will be happy.
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