S3, Ep.2 - The Myth of Multitasking: How Context Switching Derails Productivity (and Change)

In this episode, Elizabeth Fleming and Morgan Ashworth break down why “multitasking” is often a myth and how rapid task switching increases cognitive load, drains mental energy, and lowers productivity. If you’re navigating organizational change, remote work complexity, or constant meeting cycles, context switching can quietly sabotage execution and adoption—even when everyone is working hard.What you’ll learn (for every level of the org):Why context switching creates mental fatigue and attention residueHow task jumping shows up in remote work and meeting-heavy culturesPractical task management strategies: time blocking, prioritizing, and finishing work in focused chunksWhy setting boundaries is really important—and how leaders can model itHow meeting preparation reduces in-the-moment switching and improves decisionsHow understanding team dynamics supports change management and autonomySound bites you’ll hear:“Is there really such thing as multitasking?”“Setting boundaries is really important.”“Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.”Whether you’re an employee trying to get your day back, a manager juggling priorities, HR supporting sustainable performance, or an executive driving change—this episode gives you a shared language and actionable tools to protect focus and improve outcomes.Keywords: multitasking, context switching, productivity, leadership, organizational development, change management, mental fatigue, task management, remote work, cognitive load