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The Myth of Multitasking

Posted by: Jennifer Kenley | Comments (0)

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

Multitasking has become a nearly ubiquitous term on résumés and cover letters and in job interviews and performance reviews. It’s even become a prerequisite for many job seekers and an unstated requirement for employees facing the pressures of a reduced workforce. But is multitasking all it’s cracked up to be?

The basic thought behind placing a positive emphasis on multitasking in the workplace is that the ability to do more than one thing at a time is a boon to productivity – supposedly. Most employers assume that people who are great at multitasking are effective and productive individuals.
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Categories : Emerging Leaders, Executive Insights, Productivity, Teamwork, Workplace

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Are You Killing Yourself at Work? How to Stop the Madness

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Friday, May 28th, 2010

I recently read an article in USA Today that got me thinking. It said long hours and hard work doesn’t equal success. But, isn’t that what we have always been told? To work long and hard and the rewards will come?

There are many employers and business owners who live and work by this philosophy and think that by putting in an 80-hour week, they are hard workers. Some believe the harder you work, the more successful you will become. But, that just isn’t always the case. According to a recent article on the Harvard Business Review, working more than 50 hours a week has been correlated with less sleep and physical activity, job dissatisfaction, and worse job performance.
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Categories : Leadership, Productivity, Teamwork, Tips, Workplace

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Can Interns Save Workplace Productivity?

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Friday, May 14th, 2010

Even though the economy has turned a corner and business is picking up, companies are still hesitant to hire. With employees being pushed to produce more with less pay, workplace productivity is starting to decline. According to a recent report by the Labor Department, productivity for U.S. companies grew by 3.6% in the first quarter of 2010, higher than economists’ expectations, but was significantly lower than the over 6% growth in productivity seen in the previous three quarters of 2009.

Companies have gotten by with a smaller workforce for quite some time now with little or no impact to their productivity levels. But employees are exhausted for being overworked, and some are even making errors that can cost companies money. Employers are running out of ways to increase productivity without adding to their payrolls. For companies still feeling the uncertainty of hiring permanent employees, hiring interns may be the answer to increasing productivity without breaking the budget. Here are some top reasons to consider hiring interns.
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Categories : Executive Insights, Hiring, Human Resources, Leadership, Management, Productivity

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Losing Touch with Your Employees? Tips to Get Connected

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Friday, March 26th, 2010

The new hit reality show called “Undercover Boss” has millions of Americans laughing, but more importantly, it has some employees feeling hopeful they’re finally being heard.

If you’ve missed this popular new show, CBS’s “Undercover Boss” follows corporate executives from companies like 7-Eleven and Waste Management as they go undercover and work on the “front lines” of their businesses. These executives see first hand what it takes to work in the field instead of in their cushy, corner offices at headquarters. But, they’re learning more than just how hard it is to work on the forefront, they’re learning about their employees. And, it’s inspiring these executives to take a more active approach to getting to know their staff and how the decisions they make each day affect their team and company.

Although not all executives can work undercover without being noticed like the bosses on the show, there are ways you can get in touch with your employees.
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Categories : Executive Insights, Leadership, Management

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