People brag about being able to multitask but realize they can actually only do one thing at a time. Multitasking is about doing multiple things quickly in a fast-turn sequence. The best servers and bartenders I’ve watched or worked with can change their priorities on the fly. They gather new information and immediately shift their to-do lists to ensure the most important task is done next. That means effective workers drive the best results by reprioritizing their actions based on the information they just took in.
Okay, you can pat your head and rub your stomach—so technically you can do two things at once–but you get the gist of what I’m saying.
When workers shift abruptly and seamlessly from one task to another, they can make it look like they’re doing two things at once. The really good ones simply make it look like they’re multitasking. This is a skill I’ve seen countless times during a server’s or bartender’s shift. It was early in my career that I realized the principles learned at the wait station fit quite nicely into the daily tasks of commerce, work relationships, and project management.
A Few Tips4You
The only way to make that shift effectively in a professional setting is by strategizing before a meeting and debriefing after the meeting has just concluded. What are your hoped-for outcomes? What needs to happen for you to achieve your objectives? Focusing on those items drives the success of the meeting. Activating the next steps once the meeting is over ensures you have the beginning of a plan and that your teammates are aligned to handle their parts. When you share next steps with the client or prospect, it frames the relationship and allows for a connected path forward.
To create forward motion, better outcomes, and alignment, there are two smart steps you can incorporate into your normal routine:
1. Prepare ahead of time: Allow three to five minutes beforehand to remind yourself of the purpose of the meeting, what you plan to accomplish, and how you’ll achieve it. Preparing notes can be helpful.
2. Wrap up and provide next steps: Without a follow-up, attendees can leave with different recollections and takeaways. Summarize, provide the next steps, and keep up the momentum from the meeting to prepare everyone for activity and success.
That’s the nuts-and-bolts work you can do so others think you’re multitasking. Those shifts on the fly will help your career soar.
You can pre-order Turning Tables: Everything I Needed to Know about Business I Learned as a Server here. (I’ll happily autograph any copies you purchase if we can find a way to connect in person.)
To learn more and to schedule a speaking engagement, visit the following website: www.brucecbryan.com/