Heavy multitaskers were less able to switch tasks or tune out irrelevant distractions
The world has become more connected than ever, as the ways to communicate and access information continue to grow exponentially.
For small business owners, this can be both a blessing and a curse, and often results in a need to multitask on a daily basis.
However, a new study from researchers at Stanford University found that multitasking may not be in a small business owners' best interest, because people who juggle multiple demands simultaneously were found to be less productive.
The study, which identified and separately tested heavy multitaskers and light multitaskers, found that heavy multitaskers were more susceptible to interferences from irrelevant environmental stimuli, hurting their ability to switch tasks.
For small business owners who still believe they are benefitting from multitasking, the survey found that the strategy has no clear benefits.
"We kept looking for what [multitaskers] are better at, and we didn't find it," Eyal Ophir, the study's lead author, told Stanford News.
A recent study from SurePayroll found that 88 percent of small business owners think multi-tasking is a "key component" in running a small business, while 56 percent said they often juggle three or more tasks at once.
