Is Multitasking Worth the Stress? Share Your Thoughts and Experiences Here

Hi Everybody,

I am Jac, a final year Master's student. I often have contradictory ideas regarding multitasking, which my colleagues in the department say is a must in life. However, I am of the opinion that multitasking should not be done at the expense of the quality of the output. We should be given one task at a time, not all at once. They also say that we should learn to work under stress.

What are your opinions regarding multitasking and working under stress? Kindly respond from experience as well as from theory.

Thank you.

Jack

Hi,

In my view, multitasking is necessary. People are sometimes bombarded with so much work that they tend to leave the organization. If individuals have experience in handling multiple tasks simultaneously or completing many tasks quickly, they are more likely to stay with the company for a longer period.

I have observed employees frequently complaining that they have too much work and hardly any time for other tasks. Multitasking involves managing multiple tasks at once. A notable example is depicted in a television commercial where a woman serves breakfast to her family, provides clothing to her husband, and prepares lunch and snacks for her husband and children all at the same time. This exemplifies multitasking.

Companies aim to minimize hiring costs by offering higher salaries so that one employee can perform the duties of two and take on multiple roles within the organization.

To excel in multitasking, I suggest prioritizing tasks. While every task in an organization is important, some may be more urgent. Therefore, urgent tasks should be completed promptly, while other important tasks can be tackled based on their priority and deadlines.

Warm regards,

Umesh Chaudhary
welcomeumesh@yahoo.com

Dear Friend,

In this era of stiff competition, the ability to perform multiple tasks is a necessity for individuals. Even in cricket teams worldwide, preference is given to all-rounders who are rated above specialist batsmen, bowlers, wicketkeepers, etc.

For organizations and companies, it is the era of core competence. The focus should be on activities in which you excel compared to other organizations, while outsourcing the remaining activities.

Regarding working under stress, it is essential in today's world. Taking an example from cricket, a player's ability is best demonstrated when performing under pressure. Michael Bevan of Australia was regarded as the best one-day player due to his ability to perform under stress by rotating the strike. Stress should be considered a routine or inevitable aspect.

Regards,
Manoj Pillai