The Big Lie: Why Multitasking Destroys Your Focus (and Your Results)

Published On - August 21, 2021

Ted Bonel 3. EXECUTION

We all say we’re great at multitasking.
But here’s the truth: multitasking is a lie — and it’s killing your productivity.

Would you be okay with a pilot or a surgeon “multitasking” mid-operation?
Of course not. When lives are at stake, total focus is non-negotiable.

So why do we tolerate distraction in our own work — the work that shapes our business, our team, and our future?

Your job deserves no less respect.

The Multitasking Myth

Multitasking

Gary Keller, author of The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results, calls multitasking one of the Six Lies Between You and Success.

The logic is seductive: “If I do two things at once, I’ll get more done.”
But the science says otherwise.

Stanford professor Clifford Nass studied frequent multitaskers and found they underperformed across every metric.
They weren’t quicker or sharper — just “suckers for irrelevancy.”
His conclusion:

“Multitaskers were lousy at everything.”

Multitasking isn’t a superpower.
It’s a slow leak in your attention, energy, and results.

The Science of Distraction

In 2009, The New York Times ran a Pulitzer Prize-winning series titled Driven to Distraction.
It revealed that distracted driving causes 16% of all traffic fatalities and nearly half a million injuries each year.

Even a simple phone conversation while driving cuts focus by 40% — the same impact as being legally drunk.

If distraction can kill behind the wheel, imagine what it does in your boardroom, your strategy session, or your inbox.

Why Multitasking Feels Good (But Isn’t)

Here’s the twist: our brains actually enjoy switching tasks.
Each time we do, we get a tiny burst of dopamine — a chemical hit that feels like progress, even when it’s not.

That’s why checking email feels urgent, scrolling LinkedIn feels productive, and hopping between projects feels efficient.
But the result is predictable:

  • Slower thinking.
  • Weaker problem-solving.
  • More mistakes.
  • Less real output.

In other words, we’re working harder — and achieving less.

The Truth About Focus

Photographer Steve Uzzell put it bluntly:

“Multitasking is merely the opportunity to screw up more than one thing at a time.”

If you want extraordinary results, focus on one thing — and protect it fiercely.
Keller’s “Big Ideas” sum it up perfectly:

  1. Distraction is natural. Don’t feel bad when it happens — but notice it.
  2. Multitasking takes a toll. It leads to poor decisions, mistakes, and stress.
  3. Focus is the antidote. When you give one thing your full attention, everything improves.

Multitasking isn’t a skill to master — it’s a habit to unlearn.

Final Thought

The highest performers in business don’t do more.
They do less, with greater intention.

So here’s your challenge:
Pick your ONE Thing today — and give it your undivided attention.

Want to help your team escape the multitasking trap and achieve more with less stress?

Contact me at tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting.

Extraordinary results don’t come from working harder.
They come from working focused.

To Scale Up your business! Take our Scaling Up/Four Decisions Needs Assessment to discover how your business measures against other Scaled Up companies. We’ll contact you.

TED BONEL, SCALING UP PRACTITIONER – STRATEGY & EXECUTION BUSINESS ADVISORS

Are you looking to scale your business and execute strategy with clarity and impact? I help CEOs and founders turn big ideas into real-world results, guiding small to mid-market companies through tailored strategic insights that drive growth.

My expertise lies in simplifying complexity – bridging high-level strategic frameworks with the practical realities of running a business. Unlike many consultants who focus solely on theory or execution, I specialise in both—translating strategy into actionable, transformative steps that deliver lasting results.

Want to help your team escape the multitasking trap and achieve more with less stress?
Contact me at tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting.

 

ABOUT STRATEGY & EXECUTION

For over 20 years, Strategy & Execution has supported leaders and organisations in developing and executing winning strategies. We provide expert facilitation, executive education, and hands-on consulting to help businesses refine their strategic direction and implement it effectively.

Using proven methodologies like Scaling Up, E-Myth Mastery, Outthinker, and more, we challenge conventional thinking and equip organisations with the tools to accelerate growth. Our approach is dynamic—combining deep business experience with practical execution. We don’t just advise; we roll up our sleeves and work alongside you to make strategy happen.

If you’re preparing for a strategy development or execution challenge and are committed to creating real value, we’d love to hear from you. Learn more about our work or upcoming workshops

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