How switchtasking on a person damages your relationship

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“You’re not important.” Ouch. You’d never say something like that to a friend or colleague…right? Yet, when you switchtask on someone, that’s exactly what you’re saying with your attention and body language. Each time you do this, you damage your relationship.

During a recent interview with Maverick Levy on The Best of the Best Podcast show, I discuss how switchtasking damages relationships. It may not be intentional, yet that’s how you make the other person feel in that moment.

I’ve talked about the three costs of switchtasking many times: increased stress, decreased quality of work, and increased time to complete a task.

The fourth cost is damaging your relationships. You erode the foundations of trust when you give people partial attention.

Instead, get into the habit of giving people your FULL attention. If you’re not able to do so, ask them to reschedule for a time that’s better for you both. Or maybe check to see if they can wait a couple of minutes. Then, when that time comes, put your phone away and focus on that person. Everything else can wait.

How do YOU feel when someone looks at their phone while talking to you?

Keep that in mind the next time you have the urge to do the same.

Dave’s book, The Myth of Multitasking, is available now on Amazon. Learn how to minimize switchtasking and stop paying all the costs!


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