As an entrepreneur, amateur athlete and father of two, I know this multitasking sometimes it is the only option to do something. Cheating tasks are often expected of us – by our companies and our families.

This is exactly why I am trying to avoid multitasking as much as possible during my individual work hours. And I'm doing everything I can to kill what I call the 'multitasking culture' in my company.

As a productivity expert, I've met many productivity myths centered around multitasking. Some of them are so ingrained in our thinking that we can see them as universal truths instead of the fiction they really are. I've grouped those assumptions into four top myths that can hurt your company's efficiency.

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Myth #1: Multitasking workers are more productive

I'm sure you're familiar with companies that resemble a beehive – the hustle and bustle is always there, and everyone seems busy and stressed most of the time. If we had the time and capacity to analyze such organizations, I'm sure most of them would exhibit a 'multi-tasking culture' – an environment where you are judged by the number of tasks you complete rather than the results you produce. .

However, countless companies fall into the trap of confusing productivity with 'looking busy'. If you just want to look busy, multitasking can really be a strategy to use. But if you are a multi-tasker trying to be productive, I have bad news for you.

The research findings showing the harmful effects of multitasking are compelling, he said interfering with your working memory THE tendency to have attention errors and just forgetting things in general.

Simply put, the human brain cannot function efficiently handle multiple complex tasks at the same time. This is why multitasking often leads to context switching, which can be time-consuming and error-prone.

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Myth #2: Multitasking helps your team meet deadlines

Adding to the previous myth – instead of helping you achieve your goals, multitasking slows you down because of the mental strain associated with jumping from one task to another. Therefore, multitasking can lead to delays and missed deadlines.

Focused work with clear priorities is a permanent tactic for effective time management. My approach is to alternate periods of focused work with strategic interruptions and promote this practice to my team as well.

This is nothing new – ten years ago, our study found 52/17 work-pause ratio from the most productive people. The study found that combining 52-minute sessions of uninterrupted work with 17 minutes of rest is the golden ratio for achieving maximum productivity during your workday.

This approach still works for me, although I sometimes adjust the length of each of those periods to suit my needs. Employees can also choose an individual turnover ratio—it could even be the Pomodoro technique with its 25/5 ratio—whatever works for them as long as it doesn't require switching from task to task every two minutes.

Myth #3: A multitasking boss is a necessary boss

While multitasking can make a manager look like a jack of all trades, it can also portray a lack of prioritization and planning skills. Even worse, if they try micromanaging employees and poke their noses into everyone's business.

Focusing on a manager's core responsibilities shows much greater value and expertise. Being omnipresent and leading are two different things – if you do the latter right.

I think it's better to have a self-sufficient team that can do all or most of the tasks regardless of the manager's input. That said, the manager should be available to answer strategic questions and provide guidance to the team.

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Myth #4: Employees are productive if they respond quickly

Employees often feel compelled to respond to their boss's texts or emails instantly just because they're afraid of appearing distracted or slow. At my company, we try to do the opposite – what matters is the result of your work, not the speed of replying to emails or Slack messages.

I respect that employee individual work styles may vary; therefore, no one is obliged to always be available. That said, some positions require more accountability than others (think developer rep vs. HR).

I encourage my team to use Slack status updates, indicating they are in a meeting or lunch break, and use custom statuses, e.g. “focused work” status. As a hybrid team, some of us often work remotely, and little team updates like this keep everyone informed of what others are doing.

Should you give up multitasking for good?

Finally, multitasking may not be all bad for you or your company. Some studies have shown that multitasking boosts productivity, which may be important to your team. Unless you're ready to multitask, keeping a few pieces that you think are useful might be wiser and gradually phase out the rest. As with all things, the best approach is to strike a balance.

I've written and spoken on radio shows about productivity, and one thing is for sure – productivity is an ever-present topic. People will never stop looking for the perfect productivity recipe.

But perhaps the most exciting thing about productivity is that the perfect recipe doesn't exist, and you have to keep looking for it and fine-tuning it. Even if you've got the base dish right, you may need to adjust the timing of the spices because what worked for you last year may not be as potent today.