The Cranky Middle Manager Show #312 The Future of the MBA Ken Starkey
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #177 The Myth of Multitasking- Dave Crenshaw
Posted on 27. Jan, 2009 by Wayne in General, Podcast
Wayne Turmel takes on multi-tasking middle managers, among other things, with Dave Crenshaw, author of The Myth of Multitasking- How “Doing It All” Gets Nothing Done. Also, is managing hermits an oxymoron? Oh, and an engineer talks about concentration.
Dave Crenshaw- how does someone who does everything he does decry multitasking?????
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Show Notes-
0:00 Welcome to the show. This episode is dedicated to Macarius of Egypt. We’re not suggesting you become a hermit, but he was on to something. Also, when you can manage hermits you’ll understand how many middle managers feel.
3:52 The quote of the week is from Michael Farraday who suggests that the ability to concentrate is the first of many things a business person (or manager!) needs to be successful.
4:30 Welcome Dave Crenshaw to the show. Multitasking is in many of our job descriptions, so what’s the problem with multitasking? It doesn’t exist. I’ll let Dave explain…… we’re “switch tasking”.
9:15 You have to differentiate between “switch tasking” and “background tasking”. You can do multiple things at the same time if you are doing something mindless or mundane.
11:10 What is in our control? Technology is a great place to start and we’re starting with email…. check at a set time. He’s serious, stop laughing.
15:50 How do you handle interruptions???? That “quick question” she has can kill your day… plan one on one time…. don’t tell me you don’t have the time cause you wind up spending it anyway? Keeping a running list and training your people to do the same will save your sanity.
20:45 How do you distinguish between important and urgent? We blaspheme Stephen Covey’s work… i love doing that on this show…. priority is a matter of time, not definition.
23:00 Set up filters and get control of your life….which is great if you are functionally computer literate. I’m an idiot…..
27:00 Dave’s Resources:
Check out the Multitasking Assessment if you dare. Click here to take the assessment
Check out The Advenutes of Johnny Bunko by Dan Pink
Don’t let the weasels get you down!
Hey Wayne, good show. Dave’s discussion of grouping his tasks and calendar items with colors sounds a lot like “Contexts” from David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” process. Listeners that thought the grouping by color thing sounded appealing and want to know more should visit http://www.davidco.com, or google “GTD” for a ton of third party information.
Dennis, my brother, thanks for the feedback and the great advice. There is no shortage of great information on GTD… and even those of us who aren’t devotees can find ways to get better at this. Folks, you heard him….go find out more.