Women and Multi-tasking: Strategy or pitfall for Career Advancement?

Abstract

Despite the ubiquitous approach of multi-tasking in the workplace and home, research suggests that multi-tasking is not an effective strategy for productivity. Women multitask more than men do and are also perceived to be better multitaskers than men. The purpose of this paper is to share research on multi-tasking and its effects on productivity and to assist women in making informed decisions about whether multi-tasking is a strategy or a pitfall for career advancement. We discuss the perspectives on why women multi-task, the challenges associated with multi-tasking, and propose solutions. We conclude this paper by outlining successful strategies for career advancement in professional and personal spaces in a modern era where multi-tasking is the defacto coping strategy. Successful strategies include mindfulness, domestic sourcing, and the effective use of executive control functions such as goal switching and rule activation. We also discuss the importance of revisiting one's ethos, pathos, and logos