From the Desk of Adam Bean
Marketing Superintendent
Maroochydore Qld
Australia
March 2016
Warning, Eliminating this one habit will…
- Reduce your stress levels.
- Increase your productivity.
- Dramatically reduce your chances of making mistakes.
Before you do another thing watch the video below and do the task that Dave Crenshaw recommends.
It’ll literally only take you a couple of minutes, so don’t skip past it, do it right now.
The habit that I’m referring to is multitasking, which should not be mistaken with background tasking (more on it later) which when used correctly can be highly productive.
The huge problem with the perception of multi tasking.
People believe that they’re being highly productive when they’re multitasking primarily for one reason, which is they’re extremely busy.
The reality of the situation is…
What they’re actually doing is being extremely inefficient.
What’s commonly known as multi tasking is more accurately described as switching tasks, and each time you switch between two (or more) tasks, you incur what Dave Crenshaw calls a switching cost.
This is the time that it cost you to switch between the tasks, work out where you’re actually up to on that particular task and get started on it again.
But it’s not just a time cost that you incur.
Every time you switch between tasks, you increase your stress levels, kill your productivity and dramatically increase your chances of making a mistake.
Don’t take my word for it though…
I reiterate if you haven’t done so already watch the video at the top of this post and do the quick task that’ll prove to you once and for all that multitasking is a profit eroding habit that you need to stop immediately.
Just how profit eroding is multitasking?
In their report…
The cost of not paying attention: How Interruptions Impact Knowledge Worker Productivity
Basex report that the average knowledge worker loses 28% of their time each day to interruptions.
In dollar figures they estimate that it costs the United States economy $588 Billion annually.
Think about it this way…
One week of last month’s work that you performed was a complete waste of time lost to distraction and interruption.
Or what’s even worse is…
Just over one quarter of the salaries that you paid out last month wer for ZERO return.
Mary Ellen Tribby (known as “The People’s CEO) has a saying that cuts right to the chase on this issue, which is…
One thing done equals money, Five things undone equals no money
When people are “multitasking” they’re leaving tasks UNDONE and that equals no money!
As I eluded to earlier, there’s a big difference between background tasking and what people refer to as multitasking.
Let me explain the difference between the two.
- Background tasking: Let’s say that you have a number of end of month reports that need copying. So you set your printer copying, and you head back to your office to work on another task.
- Multi tasking: You’re checking your email whist you’re on the phone talking to someone.
The first example is background tasking, and it can be highly productive. Number two is what most people refer to as multi tasking and it’s an extremely inefficient way to work.
At this point it’s be easy to say…
Let’s ban all Social Media as it has to be the main problem with all of this distraction right?
Although on the surface this may seem like a good idea, it’s not the solution.
Social Media, Instant Messaging, Skype, Email etc are all just tools, which can be used highly effectively to increase productivity, build client relationships and ensure that you have a happy productive workforce.
The problem isn’t these new tools, the problem is the fact that people have never been trained on how to use these tools effectively.
As I posted on my Instagram feed some time back…
You have to get the right tools in the right person’s hands to get the job done properly
The construction industry which I’m still heavily involved in could benefit immensely from the knowledge that I’ve covering here today about multitasking and the problems that the new tools that are available to its workforce pose.
The construction industry has recognised the fact that although the new physical tools (such as EWP”S) that have been introduced into the industry over the last 30 years can dramatically increase production, they can also be extremely dangerous if…
- The correct controls to manage the risk they create aren’t put in place.
- Personnel aren’t trained how to use the tools properly.
There’s a massive opportunity for a construction company to gain an unassailable competitive advantage over their competition by applying those same two principles above to the tools that knowledge workers now have access on a daily basis.
Although the construction industry as a whole may have figured out how to effectively manage the risk that the physical tools pose, they’re still haven’t come to grips with the fact that the tools which have crept into the knowledge – office based workers toolkit, create productivity issues that need managing as well.
So what is the answer?
The same level of thinking that created a problem, can’t be used to solve it. Albert Einstein
There’s a saying that’s been around in the construction industry for as long as I can remember.
And it’s just as relevant today (even with all of the technological advances we’ve seen) as that day I learnt which is almost 30 years ago now.
That saying is…
Proper planning prevents piss poor performance.
If you want your team to be able to dramatically reduce their interrupted time, and turn those wasted hours into highly productive time instead, then you have to give them an effective plan to follow.
Regardless of the industry that you work in, the best plan that I’ve seen is the video below (aptly named the 50 minute focus finder) created by productivity expert Dean Jackson.
Obviously this is only scratching the surface of what’s possible.
I haven’t even gone into how once you’re team has been trained on how to use these tools efficiently, you can then leverage that efficiency to build rock solid client relationships that give you the inside running to win even more project work.
Bear this in mind with the information that I’ve shared with you above.
I’m a Construction Superintendent (click here to view my Linkedin profile) that’s worked on some of Australia’s largest projects including…
- Darwin LNG
- Woodside’s Pluto LNG
- Gorgon
- QGC – QCLNG Project
So when I talk about how these tools impact project based employees it comes from years of experience in the industry.
They’re not theories that I learnt in some trumped up course, they’re what I’ve actually used and proven to work effectively project after project.
Want to know more about how your company could deploy these strategies, and start dominating your industry?
Here’s what you need to do next.
I’ll personally design a custom training plan specifically for your company that’ll enable your team to gain the maximum productivity out of these tools.
I’ll come into your business for the day, spend time talking with your key people about the challenges they’re currently facing around managing these tools, then draw up a plan for you (and present it that afternoon) on a whiteboard.
The plan is yours to keep regardless of whether you decide to use my services or not.
The only cost to you is the following…
- An air fare to your capital city from the Sunshine Coast.
- $247.00 to cover my hire car – uber fare, and my lunch.
So the risk to your company is negligible, and you’ll get a custom training plan which you can deploy immediately, that’ll make you stand out from the rest of the competition in your industry.
To book in for a custom training plan, click the Social Tradie Logo below, and a box will pop up.
Then enter your Name, mobile phone number and best email address for me to contact you on, and and I’ll be in touch within 48 hours to have a quick chat about booking in for your custom training plan.
Speak Soon
