Multitasking in the workplace

Source: http://blog.caplin.com

The most challenging experience that I had in my previous job is on how to handle multitasking. Multitasking is handling things or tasks at the same time. When I was in the Davao Chamber, I used to handle 2-3 positions in the office. In Nov 2008, our Membership Development Officer resigned and she has chosen me to handle her responsibilities temporarily (with consent from our Executive Director), until there will be a replacement for her. At that time, when this position was given to me, I was already the Business Development Assistant for Training and Consultancy; it was hard on my part since my current position is also very tedious, requiring full attention.

It was too late to hire for her replacement, since the Annual Elections will be held next month. I told our Executive Director about the current position I'm in and it will be hard for me to handle both. He told me that I can do it, and the SME Center has no major activities anymore at the end of the year. So, I agreed to handle it.

The challenge is that I need to call Chamber Members and make write-ups for the SME Center for our Davao Branding System at the same time while meeting crunching deadlines. Aside from that, I need to prepare the logistical requirements and venue for our elections and at the same time prepare for our road show (for our Davao Branding System in the SME Center).

So, what I did is that I divide my task, if there are phone calls, meetings and sending of letters (faxing them), I do it during office hours (8am-5pm). Reporting, article writing and team discussions, I schedule it 5:30pm onwards.

Obviously, there were a lot of overtime and work during weekends. It was tiresome, but at the end of the day, when I have accomplished all my tasked and it was a success, the sweat was worth it. I was proud that our event was a success; and the laborious preparations have paid off.