The Myth of Multitasking: How Leaders Stop Being Scattered and Start Being Effective

Leaders are caught up with juggling different tasks at a time but still end up feeling like they haven't accomplished anything. We all want to boost our productivity and increase effectiveness, leaders especially, and the best way forward is to let go of multitasking in order to focus more, therefore resulting in achieving more.  In today's Construction Genius podcast episode, we are joined by Dave Crenshaw, the author of the time management best seller The Myth of Multitasking. He explains why multitasking does not result in productivity. He also shares practical ways to start reclaiming the value of your time and the difference between switch tasking and back tasking.He also gives advice regarding getting a third-party to hold you accountable.  This is an interesting and educational episode that you will learn a lot from. Tune in to this episode today!  What's Discussed in This Episode: 0:00 Introduction 1:46 Debunking the myth of multitasking  2:27 The difference between switch tasking and back tasking 4:06 Attention switches and how to minimize it5:21 Ways to develop a discipline in schedule 7:07 How to communicate your disciplined schedule to people 8:50 Closed door, open calendar policy 10:38 Emergencies vs. 'impatiencies' 11:07 How leaders should deal with the need to be perceived as the hero11:47 Busy means you're not in control 12:02 Shifting from action to results 13:13 Time blocks and how to effectively implement it 14:22 Practical ways to establish the value of your time 16:08 Delegating is back tasking 16:41 Why back tasking is productive 17:00 When to schedule valuable activities17:41 Examples of back tasking 19:44 Definition of delegation 20:21 Creating a training process and a system 20:58 The relationship between delegation and accountability22:03 Why a third-party helps keep us accountable23:06 Advice for those who want to stop multitasking24:36 Evaluating what tasks to focus on 26:23 How long does focus time need to be to create an impact 28:06 Practical takeaways to become more focused 30:51 Dave's recommended restaurant  About the Guest:  Dave Crenshaw develops productive leaders in Fortune 500 companies, universities, and organizations of every size. He has appeared in Time magazine, USA Today, FastCompany, and the BBC News. His courses on LinkedIn Learning have been viewed tens of millions of times. His five books have been published in eight languages, the most popular of which is The Myth of Multitasking—a time management bestseller. As an author, speaker, and online instructor, Dave has transformed the lives and careers of hundreds of thousands around the world. DaveCrenshaw.com  Resources:  Visit Dave Crenshaw's website (https://davecrenshaw.com/learn)  Follow Dave Crenshaw on Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/davecrenshaw/)  Subscribe to Dave Crenshaw's YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/DaveCrenshaw)  Books mentioned in this episode:    The Myth of Multitasking: How "Doing It All" Gets Nothing Done (http://www.multitaskingmyth.com)    Restaurant recommendation:  Valter's Osteria (https://valtersosteria.com/) Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to the Construction Genius: A Leadership Master-Class Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher. Thank you for tuning in!