POV

Mastering the art of multitasking

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Being able to juggle multiple projects and tasks at the same time – to say nothing of all the added responsibilities you have outside of your job – is a fundamental skill required to work in account services. Being flexible and adaptable is something clients and employers seek out and expect of you. So the key to success is to find a way to do it all without compromising the quality of your work and your quality of life.

Here are my top 4 tips to mastering the art of multitasking:

1. Create a to-do list

While writing this article, I looked at how I schedule my day, and the one thing I do at the start of my workday is to create a to-do list. I find this approach extremely helpful in getting all my thoughts written down in one place so I can see everything laid out and then clearly define and establish what items may take priority over others. Having this list can also serve as a reference point to keep you on track and focused on the tasks ahead.

2. Use productivity tools and apps

Another useful way to multitask is to utilize productivity tools and apps that are readily available at your fingertips.

There are little things in our everyday lives that we may not be taking proper advantage of. For instance, setting task reminders alerts in your inbox to not let items go unanswered is a great way to deprioritize items that don’t need to be addressed right away.

Moreover, productivity and project management applications like Google Drive, Egnyte or Wrike can be useful tools for multitasking, as they offer a singular space to manage, edit and share all your files in one location.

These types of applications are also great as they offer the opportunity for you to invite others to collaborate in real-time without having to create multiple email threads that can become hard to track.

3. Manage distractions and organize you time

With more of us working for home these days, it can become tricky to manage your surrounding distractions. However, this is a crucial factor in being successful at multitasking. Trying to find a quiet space or area with limited noise or distractions is necessary so that you can stay focused on the task at hand.

Sometimes making the effort to take the occasional break is a good thing. Organizing your time and blocking off some “me” time in your daily calendar to take a break throughout the day is necessary. Taking some time to clear your head and coming back to address a task with a fresh set of eyes is never a bad thing.

4. Delegate

Lastly, I believe a fundamental skillset that most account services people learn is to delegate, which is to say taking something off your plate that is taking extra time, which could be put to better use on something else.

It can sometimes be hard to let go of something you’ve been working on for some time, but at the end of the day, you must remember that clients’ needs come first.

If you can lean on the support of another team member to help get a project over the finish line with the quality the client expects, you’re not only addressing a pivotal need but also crossing a task off your list at the same time – which is always a great feeling.

Ultimately, multitasking can seem intimidating at first, but taking a strategic approach to managing your time will benefit you in the end. I hope you find these tips handy as you take on your next multitasking challenge.

One more thing…

I also want to make it super clear that multitasking is not recommended when you have to concentrate on one important thing. For example, if you’re in a client meeting or a presentation, you shouldn’t try to listen while responding to an email. It’s not only disrespectful to the person you’re supposed to be giving your full attention to, but it will also make it harder for you to absorb the content of the meeting.