Multitasking == Unfocused Mediocrity?

One thing that I have come to appreciate about Agile is the unrelenting focus that
it brings to your work. As a manager type, I don’t get to enjoy this particular aspect
of the methodology because I am basically running around to meetings all the time.
With Agile, I see coders and testers actually able to concentrate on their work, and
this is HUGE.

Although we don’t see this much in tech resumes, I do NOT want to see multi-tasking listed
as a skill on a resume. Highlight your ability to concentrate. Setting priorities,
ordering a list of tasks, and delivering what you promised is so much more valuable
than doing a little of too many things at once.

Multitasking is pseudo-code for, “I cannot manage my time appropriately.” Now, there
may be several reasons for this, not the least of which may be your supervisor. If
you spend your day fighting fires, this is a sure sign that your team is not trying
to execute on a strategy, but is in a reactive mode. Not a great place to be.

The good news is that you can always start with what you can control, yourself. Here
are a few simple tips that you can do to get started.

A Few Simple Tips

1. Use a To Do List

   This is so simple it hurts, but plan your month, your week, and your day. Have goals,
   no matter how simple and make good on them. Knocking a few things off of your list
   feels great and after operating this way for awhile, you’ll never go back. Being able
   to prove that you got something done is key to enjoying your work.

   The point here is to use a To Do list, don’t just make one. Use it
   to change your habits.

2. Close Outlook

   Open your email twice a day at pre-scheduled times, process all of your mail,
   and then close it. I once knew a programmer who did this and he was one of the most
   effective people I have ever known.

   Guess what? If a fire is really that hot, they will call you on the phone.

3. Choose Meetings

   Have you noticed that meetings come to you as invitations? Do you accept
   every invitation that comes to you outside of work? Try being a bit more judicious
   about the ones that you accept at work.

   One way to do this peacefully is this; Before accepting a meeting, if you think it
   is something that can be dealt with otherwise, call the person who invited you and
   discuss their issue. Don’t just say, “I don’t want to come to your meeting.” Find
   out why they need you and try to help them before they get a 30 minute or 2 hour block
   of your time. You’ll find that many 30 minute meetings can be resolved without stepping
   into the meeting room, and can be done so in less than 10 minutes.

   Use part of the time that you spend reading email as per item #2 to do this.

These are just a few simple techniques that can help, but the main theme here is to
protect yourself from distraction. Good luck.