We have all been guilty of it at some point: talking to one person on the phone while allowing ourselves to be distracted by email or web surfing at the same time. We think no one will notice as we respond with, “Uh huh…sure…right…OK..um…” Multitasking studies have shown us that doing two things at one time is not a good time management technique. It is far less effective than doing one thing and then switching to another. Yet because of the frenetic pace we often find ourselves working at, it becomes tempting to try and catch up. Put it in reverse. Do you know when someone is only half-listening to you? It is usually quite obvious. How does that make you feel? The next time you find yourself allowing a distraction to take half of your attention from a conversation, remember two things:

1. It is rude, and the other person senses your inattention..
2. You are really not accomplishing more by doing this.

That temptation during a conference call to scroll through email may seem innocuous at the moment; that is, until someone on the call asks for your input and then they have to recap the previous comments because you missed them. You now represent a waste of time for the others involved, all because you thought you would get more done. Even in face-to-face conversations when someone comes into your office, you may be scanning documents on your desk while the conversation occurs. I have been just as guilty as anyone. I want to give everyone permission to call my attention to this lack of respect if I slip and split my focus during present interactions under the guise of getting more done.