The Manners of Multitasking

"Must be able to multitask."  A safe assumption of any corporate role these days.  The business world loves "plate spinners" and abhors "ball droppers".  He/she who can effectively engage in a phone conversation, while IMing in multiple windows, responding to emails, and wrapping up a spreadsheet, all without upsetting the visitor at the door, wins . . . or do they?

I like to think I was raised with manners.  Sure, I sometimes get so excited about my latest thought that I blab with a mouthful of food (yes, I disgust myself) and occasionally I've let the door close when I'm in too great a rush for the slow walker (yes, I am ashamed), but most of the time I'm a mindful citizen of humanity.  Except lately I've noticed my workplace manners could use some polishing.  We are in such a hurry to be EFFICIENT, PRODUCTIVE, SUCCESSFUL, "WINNERS" . . . we forget, arguably, the most important part of our day to day: others.

So here are my tips to self:

Engage: When someone comes to your desk, stop typing, look up, and give them 100% of your attention, even if it's only for a few seconds.  It's okay to let them know you'll have to reconnect later (gotta keep those plates spinning after all), or that you need to finish up something first, or even let them know that you need to (gasp!) keep working on something during the conversation (use your best judgment here - if you can't focus properly on the conversation, then refer to an earlier solution).

Zip the Lip: Nothing trumps respect; not your idea, not your joke, not your opinion . . . NOTHING.  You're excited, I get it, now let me finish my thought.  I can say that free of malice as I'm quite possibly the world's worst interrupter (again, shame ensues).

Stop or Go Stealth: I stand corrected, the BlackBerry (or iPhone, depending on your camp) is actually the world's worst interrupter.  I cannot resist the blinking red light (if you grinned, you're an addict too).  If you lack the willpower to put it down then please, wait for an appropriate moment in the conversation, preferably one not requiring your attention or input, and sneak a peek at your emails under the table.

Revive the Nod: You've got to drop off the file, go to the restroom, pick up the printout, and grab a cup of tea, all before your 2 o'clock call . . . and that's when it happens . . . the insincere greeting.  As you race down the hall you pass a friendly coworker, they say 'hi", you say "hi", they mumble "howrya", you mumble "goodyou?" and without waiting for a response you continue on to your destination.  You've just inquired after someone's emotional status with zero intention of sticking around long enough to hear about it.  What's worse, perhaps, is they have zero intention of answering.  Can we all just drop the charade and revive the social nod?  It does it all - a greeting without a time commitment.  How the office hasn't fallen in love with this efficient little gem is beyond me.

Okay, so there we have it, a handful of small steps to a more polite, though no less busy, workplace version of ourselves.