There is hope. Based on the insights from my interviews, there are productive ways to break the multitasking habit — even though that habit isn’t yours. Small strategic steps that bring to light how the multitasker is stalling progress can go a long way.
Call out the multitasker mid-task. Sometimes the pace of everyday life makes self-awareness challenging. As psychologists would argue, “emphasize the interpersonal and intraspsychic costs” (PDF) of the multitasker’s mistake. You can help by simply bringing attention to their multitasking habit and how damaging their behavior is becoming. The results could surprise you. One entrepreneur recounted, “After watching a VC constantly check his iPhone while I was pitching, I let him know that it was affecting the quality of our presentation. He put his phone away and respected me more as a result.”
Find a new time to meet. To beat a multitasker, take away their Plan B, C, and D. If they’re already engaged in something, reschedule time with them to have a proper interaction. One banker argued, “When my annual performance review meeting was sabotaged by my manager’s email habit, I stood up and suggested we reschedule time after hours, when he was ‘off the hook.'” An effective strategy for the workplace is to reschedule a slot at the beginning of the workday, before the day’s emails, alerts, and notifications start rolling in.
Physically disengage. When multitaskers get tough, the tough get walking. One mother said, “If my kids are too busy playing with their iPads to have a proper conversation with me, I walk out of the room. That usually does the trick.” Sending this powerful signal shows you’re willing to play hardball and will pique the attention of even the most-seasoned multitasker. Of course, walking out on your boss probably isn’t the best career option, so disengage in other ways. One junior consultant suggested that “moving to an empty chair on the opposite side of the room gave the senior partner space to wrap up her email and slide over to me when she was ready to talk.”
Handle a multitasker’s habit and pave the way for a more productive work environment. You’ll alleviate everyone’s irritation and frustration, and you might just rescue a failing project or a doomed relationship. By making them aware of their faux pas, you can stop the multitasking maniacs dead in their tracks — and sidestep potentially damaging impacts before they arise.
