One in four small business owners feel overwhelmed and negatively impacted by multi-tasking
Juggling tasks and responsibilities is one of the biggest challenges facing small business owners - though considered more or less necessary, it can also threaten the productivity and success of a small business.
A recent survey by payroll company SurePayroll found that 88 percent of small business owners consider multi-tasking to be "a key component in running a successful business that business owners should embrace," while over half of respondents reported they regularly handle three or more tasks simultaneously.
With the tough economy putting even more pressure on business owners to pick up the slack and take over tasks that were affected by layoffs or budget cuts, multi-tasking is more common than ever, the company reported.
"Business owners we talk with are doing everything they can to weather the storm, and that includes working on more and more projects simultaneously to ensure their businesses stay in top form," said SurePayroll president Michael Alter.
However, one-quarter of small business owners are feeling burned out and overwhelmed by the practice, with worries that it negatively affects their time management and the quality of their work.
To streamline multi-tasking, Alter encouraged small business owners to make prioritized lists, outsource business operations and delegate whenever possible, and take personal time to relax and recharge.
The rewards for doing so may not be only on a personal level - a recent study by Basex found that information overload costs the economy approximately $900 billion each year.
