Multitasking is a myth - it makes people more inefficient

"Work smarter not harder" is a common exhortation by CEOs. Another common directive is "to do more with less". But how? Simplistic slogans masquerade as management insights with worrying frequency. In business it's not the "what" but the "how" that often matters more.

Just take a look at your calendar. Is your day programmed with meetings and events without a moment to spare? Are you consistently "grabbing" lunch and "eating on the run"? Are you always busy? Is the challenge to fit everything you need to do in the available time? Or is it to use the limited time to do what matters and to do it well?

The problem you are trying to solve lies at the heart of determining the right solution. It's not about squeezing out more and more activities during the day but what you put into your day that is more important.