Multitasking Men vs Women
72New Song - All You Need Is Love - By Makeshift Innocence
I have been observing people all my life and I have came to the conclusion there are some things that women do much better than men and other things men do better. One of those things that men do not normally do well and woman are simply amazing at is multitasking.
I am not sure if it is on our human DNA that way, or if it has been conditioned over time. Woman being the home maker and looking after the children at the same time may have developed this skill, but then it might have been in the creators plan and it truly is in our DNA.
Picture this – a friend I were at his father in-laws for an afternoon barbeque. The mother in-law sent us down town to buy something at the grocery store. The three of us guys got into the fathers car to leave. He was about to start the the engine and remembered he had to add water to the car battery. He got out and went to get the water and on the way back he tripped on the rake. He then set the water down and started raking the lawn as it was in bad need of it. My friend and I were still in the car waiting to go to the grocery store.
That story is not about multitasking, but it clearly demonstrates what happens to most men when they are given more than one thing to do at once. Chaos happens unless an order of priority is established for the tasks. Once ordered, the man will focus head down and butt up until they all get done... one at a time.
Can you imagine how that would look at home if a woman could only do one thing at a time. Little Johnny would have the cat shaved with his dads razor, the dinner on the stove would burn all because little Suzzie needed her diapers changed.
At the work place, give a woman ten jobs that all have a deadline to be finished in ten days. They will usually start all ten at once. Work a little on each here and there, even jumping from one to the other while working mainly on a third one. At the end of ten days they will all be done.
Give a man the same ten jobs that need done in ten days, he will sort and plan the order he will do them, set his own priorities if they were not given to him, and get them done one at a time in the same ten days.
Both men and women can accomplish much the same amount of work (aside from physical demands that “some” woman can not do) yet their approach to the work is totally different. Men are better planners (normally better visionaries) and can see long term better than a woman, but a woman can usually handle short term chaos with much less trouble than a man.
This brings up another funny point. Woman seem to have a compulsion to RUSH AFTER TROUBLE - TO CATCH IT UP. Running 10 directions at once, whereby men asses the chaos, make a plan and methodically cleans it all up. LMAO (the need to rid ourselves of compulsions is another hub for later)
In communication with the opposite sex, this difference should be remembered as well. Men have a hard time believing that a woman is listening to them, as they may be multitasking on some project while listening. Men should relax a little on this topic and allow the woman to multitask while in conversation... but that said, the woman too needs to be more willing at times to give undivided attention to the man. Both need to be appreciative of the others needs and abilities, and each have to give in a little.
This brings up a point that is truly VERY funny. VERY FUNNY. The "odd time" a man will be truly effectively multitasking just when a woman approaches to communicate. The man, who normally does not multitask may be effectively paying attention the the woman, but the woman who “rarely see any man multitask," - LOL -she wont believe she is heard at all, and will take extreme offense. SO SO funny!
Keep these facts in mind as you go about your day working as well as with your communicating. Test my theory out yourself. Endeavour to understand the opposite sex and improve your communications, thus your relationships daily. Your efforts will be most appreciated. Endeavour to understand the opposite sex at work and give them tasks according to their needs and abilities.
Yes we are different! Multitasking is one unique difference between the sexes. I hope this hub gives you a little insight into both your nature as well as those of both sexes around you.... but in the end "All We Need Is Love."
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LOVE – LIGHT – LAUGHTER
Neil Sperling
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Good article Neil!Great topic, and interesting approach to it.
All over the history "male" and "female" roles have been upgraded, even though a basic scenery continued to suffer due to it's real obscurity.
All religions, mysticism & science are talking about the same things. From Adam and Eva ......... till Darwin ... ALL CONSIDER MONKEY as a human forefather. Judeo-Christians & Muslims call him God, Hindu & Buddhists MIND (monkey mind)and DARWIN describes him as UNCONSCIOUS (android) ANIMAL WHO STARTED THINKING and using his hand :))).
Human DNA is a perfect medium, and Creator's plan is a human attempt to say something what would not be too compromising to anyone.
Seriousness is what lacks here.
And seriousness require multitask (approach + steps).
Within masculine religion (and phallusoid reality) WHY WOULD MEN DEVELOP THEIR MULTITASK RESPONSE TO LIFE?
Tell me please :).
Thanks for serving so valuable meal to the plate.
Lets see what people think about.
Hi Neil and I commend you for writing this hub. It should give rise to various opinions from both sides of the fence.
The funny thing is, I know men who multi task while I talk to them etc. And I don't multi task. I'm afraid the cat would be shaved and the meal burnt, because I can only do one thing at a time and not very well. I am aware of what you're talking about, but I think that kind of reality for some men is because they know someone else will do the task better.
So when someone says to me - sure you're a woman you can mutlitask, I go crazy, cos I don't. I'm very chaotic. You should see me trying to get out my front door to somewhere - there's chaos. I think honestly that a myth has grown up around men's deeds and that they have lived with a mother who is very proficient and therefore causes the male to feel inadequate and not bother.
As I said earlier I know lots of men who mind children on their own, are very proficient with several tasks and children talking to them at the same time. I admire them. So what you think? Is it a brain thing or is it a philosophy?
I always thought that women multitasked better than most men. I think as you saaid near the beginning that women are pretty much used to having to do so.
Branka - Always I Admired your depth and willingness to think for yourself. I appreciate you more every day... in all ways. I agree with you and love your closing statement "Lets see what people think about."
Henry Ford said "Thinking is a lot of work, that explains why so few people engage in the activity."
Now I will work on developing better skills at multitasking! :-)
chspublish - great reply and I appreciate your take on this greatly. I know there are women who do not multitask well and men that do... I tried to be general with my statements in saying things like "normally" .... as I know there are many exceptions to generalities. Thanks for commenting - much appreciated!
KoffeeKlatch Gals - great to see you and thanks for taking the time to comment.
Woman have been "Multi Tasking" since the CAVEMAN DAYS. ALL THE MEN HAD TO DO WAS HUNT...It's been proven time and again, Men hear ONLY the FIRST thing that you ask them to do...and don't get me started on SELECTIVE HEARING! Good Hub Neil.
b.malin - LOL from caveman days eh !!! both sexes have that selective hearing if and when they choose. Thanks for dropping by!
Very interesting points made.
Funny hub. I think I can multitask effectively, however my husband says I am not giving anything my full attention, therefore am doing nothing well. But I get a lot of it done! Great point about a woman rushing after trouble. I have seen it happen too many times.
Namaste.
Marcella - thanks for comment
Deborah demander - Glad you saw the humor as well as a tip or two.... Thanks for taking time to comment - Namaste
I've heard a Miss Universe contestant answered that MEN think straight or been focusing one thing at a time while WOMEN take care of those CURVES and BUMPY ROADS that they can endure in life. Yet, for every man's success, there's a woman behind...if you still believe with this old saying.
Multi-tasking is often asked nowadays in an interview during job fairs. I almost laugh when my interviewer asked me if I know how to make coffee, LOL! Oh, gee...they want St@rb#cks anyway!!!
travel_man LOL - loved your comment... curves, bumpy roads and behind.... :-)))
I've been interested by this forever, well mostly since I became a mom. Honestly I saw no difference in my husband and I and our abilities to multi-task or not. But then throw the kid into the mix and now multi-tasking is second nature to me and my husband definitely lags behind. Although I'll drop the ball on something sooner or later or forget something and he'll always say- you shouldn't be doing so many things at once, but as a mom, it's not a choice.
You make great points about the communication aspect. Great hub and topic!
izettl - Thanks for reading, sharing your story AND commenting.... you shouldn't be doing so many things at once LOL
Thanks for giving women credit for the ability to get some things done. This is good to hear after many years of sexist stereotyping.
mimi721wis - sexist stereotyping and judgements are both a huge waste of energy. Better to use reason, appreciation and love. Thanks for the comment!
Neil, I have a new slogan for you...
"Neil Sperling - hubs that make you go - "H'mmmm!" "!
LOL! I love this hub, full of interesting ideas to make us all think outside the box! Or cube!
Cassy - Cheeky Girl you again made my day. What a compliment "Neil Sperling - hubs that make you go - "H'mmmm!" "! THANK YOU SO MUCH
Luv ya Friend!
Hi, Neil! I voted this hub up and awesome. I fully agree with the fact that most women can multi-task a bit better than men, but that's not to say that a man's method of accomplishing a list of tasks is any less. It also depends upon the person, too because I have met many women who cannot multi-task to save their lives! LOL. Great job.
kitty - cool you dropped by.... yes -- there are some men who multitask well and some woman that can not do more than one task at a time... thanks for taking time read and comment.
LOL AWESOME JOB! Especially the part about
"The "odd time" a man will be truly effectively multitasking just when a woman approaches to communicate. The man, who normally does not multitask may be effectively paying attention the the woman, but the woman who “rarely see any man multitask," - LOL -she wont believe she is heard at all, and will take extreme offense. SO SO funny!"
THAT IS SO TRUE and too funny! Very good observer of people you are there Neil Sperling!
Women are better multi-taskers: I can cook, talk on the phone, and pour a glass of milk for one of the kids and all with a baby on my hip! Sometimes, we HAVE to learn how to do these things! LOL AWESOME HUB!
neakin - LOL -- I am glad you enjoyed the chuckle.... Thanks so much for dropping by and taking time to comment. Your hubs are a hoot too! See you again!
An intriguing article. Actually I prefer doing 1 thing at a time, but I multitask out of necessity (mom of 2 active youngsters). I liked your story about the man getting ready to go to the store, the situation had me laughing!! Anyhow, thanks for a great hub on a unique and interesting topic.
Giselle - :-) That story / situation had me laughing as I recalled and wrote about it..... Glad you enjoyed the hub and thanks for commenting.
Hi, Neil!
Yes, multi-tasking is a major reason why I get things done, although I have plans in place ahead of time. I give myself mini-deadlines to have certain aspects of assignments or tasks done by a specific time. I couldn't possibly meet deadlines if I didn't do at least some multi-tasking. Great hub.
florabreen - Cool..... mini deadlines is a great formula.
Glad you enjoyed the hub - thanks for taking time to comment
Very good hub about an interesting subject that I often think about. Good that you write about the differences in a neutral way and also with humor:) I think it is time that we allow both sexes to have their special abilities and short comings and make use of the differences instead. And with a bit of understanding to the people around us and some humor it shouldn't be so hard:) Thanks for a great hub!
Tina
Tina (thought force) - Thanks for the compliment. I agree understanding and humor would go a long way.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. I actually have noticed this difference as well. Males tend to think in a "linear way" in that when they are given tasks to do, they are inclined to do one at a time, clearing everything else away at the moment. Very informative - voted up and awesome!
puddingicecream - wow - thanks for the votes and comment.
Great hub. It's true what they say - men are better at compartmentalizing, and yes - they are better at maintaining their composure when things go wrong, especially at work. And I've found the men I've worked for and with (I'm in the biotech industry) do just fine in the compassion department as well. Hard nosed but professional. They're great.
I'll take a male boss over a female one ANY day of the week, T.Y.V.M.
Tara - thanks for the comment -- I look forward to seeing your hubs
Neil - this is PRICELESS. I got such chuckles out of your oh-so-accurate descriptions of how men and women respond to things. So true!
I happen to be almost equally right & left brained, with the right hemisphere slightly predominating - 1%. (Thank goodness for that! ) But I can actually feel my system appropriately applying whichever approach fits the challenges best, or even combining them if that woud fit best. It switches almost viscerally!
It took me many years to really accept that it's my way and my best way to go about dealing with things, no matter what others may think I ought to be doing, as well as recognizing that mine is realistically not the optimum way for anyone else, necessarily!
But in the meantime, I tended to feel inadequate somehow when a more definitely right or left brained person was leading the way (and I was a quite willing follower). I really was not at my best trying to use their solutions (which validated to them that I needed more of their help! HELP!) - until I simply realized how much better I actually do a thing when I just apply my own method to it, whichever kind of challenge it happens to be. And oddly, I don't seem to have to select one of the ways. That seems to be part of what it does in its own process!
What I do have to do is be more understanding and tolerant of folks who are so much more one-way-or-the-other! haha It can seem that they are spinning their wheels and wasting effort, when it would be so much simpler if. . . . - hahaha It's an age-old struggle with humans, I think; and one which has and does lead to many misunderstandings and hard feelings! Multitasking is one of many contrasts!
I certainly agree that typically men are more left-brained and analytical/methodical and women are more right-brained and intuitive/creative. It's probably mostly genetic, but with the actual results tending folks into the gender roles in which they best excel, the lines of distinction between which is which and/or better becomes less defined. Practice really does help make perfect! :-) Call it instinct or behavioral. Doesn't much matter in results but physical attributes of the genders also support the tendencies! It seems a very good arrangement to me, so long as people afford each other wiggle-room! ah-yes!
Thank you for a most refreshing- and enlightening - stimulus to the day, Neil! Hugs - Nellieanna
Nellieanna - thanks for your story.. i enjoyed reading it and I appreciate your comment. So Correct "It's an age-old struggle with humans,"
I love the way you ended your comment "so long as people afford each other wiggle-room!" .... I love to wiggle... waggle too! Wiggle waggle... jiggy jiggy push push LMAO
Tee hee - yeah, me too, Neil! :-)
I enjoyed the humor in this hub! I always said women are much better at multitasking than men BUT I'm still not sure if that's a good or bad thing. Thanks for the laughs! UP/FUNNY
I would say, multitasking is a learned skill or temptation, based on the way we live today. It is a damaging one!
Multitasking temptations were reduced back in the days.
In fact, multitasking is heavily promoted in our culture with the new inventions like Facebook, iPhone, iPod and others. They all have advantages, but also disadvantages (like multitasking).
When multitask, you lose the ability to focus on tasks or activities for longer period of time!
sunshine625 - so glad I stick your funny bone... thanks for the up and funny..
Chris-diamond - so true - multitasking has increased in our daily activities and I would agree - it is not such a good thing for overall productivity.... unless of course you are natural and multitask effectively.
Often wonder about this but am usually busy doing ten other things, I just can't articulate my thoughts, ;) Neat hub.
fi fi - I can't articulate my thoughts either - and I only have one at a time ... LOL
kidding of course - thanks for dropping by
Great hub, sure make you think about the way we (men and women) do things differently. I appreciate the grin the article put on my face.
kaydfenlee - so glad my hub put a GRIN on your face.... your profile pic did the same for me :-)
Thanks for the praise - I appreciate it!
Enjoyed your hub and resing the comments from your followers. I use the multi-tasking "line" for why my desk is always so cluttered. But, I can always find what I need. I wonder if there is any correlation between the sexes when it comes to procrastination. I don't, but so many males I know do. Makes me crazy!
Truckstop Sally - your desk is cluttered too eh! As for procrastination... Who knows if there is a correlation between sexes... thanks for commenting
I hate to admit this but even though I am a woman I am not great at Multi-tasking. I could be a potential customer. LOL. Thank you for a lovely hub, Neil. :)
Astra - again thanks for taking the time to comment. Multi-tasking is a challenge for me too. Thanks for dropping by.
Interesting hub Neil! I can multitask if I had to, I did it for many years raising my son, taking care of the home and caring for many animals. Multitasking came in handing when I was a bartender too....
But I also like to focus on one task at a time if I'm able to...and I always look down the road at any decision or planning I have to make...I certainly did that in raising my son, knowing that every decision I, or my husband, made would effect my son as an adult.
Voted up!!
Terri Shields -- I thank you for taking the time to read and comment. Multi tasking does come in handy -- i can wear those shoes but prefer to focus on one task at a time... much more natural to me.
hey!! what a great hub!! loved it!! women sure do multitasking better than men!! :)) in fact i do multi tasking all the time!! i cant hadle one task at a time!! i always need more than that one task to engage myself and keep away from feeling bored or doing monotonus work!!
Carrie Thomson - glad you could relate to this hub.... it is odd... give either a man or a woman 10 tasks... let them accomplish them "their way"... the men will do one at a time - the woman will work on all 10... and the total 10 tasks will get done at about the same time... lol
Thanks for commenting.
You had better hope the feminist groups never see this Hub, my friend. Dr Lawrence Summers was fired as President of Harvard for daring say there could be "some" difference between men and women. :D
james a watkins - LOL - I double dared on this one then. Three cheers for Dr. Lawrence Summers and for you too. Hip Hip....... Thanks for the comment my friend!
Yes, I agree with you. It's great you point out the difference between male and female.
Vonnavie - thanks for the comment. Pointing out the difference in hopes of better understanding of self and others. :-)
I have always been able to multitask... my brother is equally as good at it, but that might be because of how we were raised. An exception to every rule.
Phoebe - great comment -- Of course there are exceptions and it may be because of the way you were raised as you said.... i appreciate your comment and thank you for taking the time to do so!
Neil Sperling: What a delightful hub!
Thank you, voted up, etc.,
Derdriu
P.S. What, no video?!
derdrui - you still reading my hubs... wow - Thank You!
Yeh. Multi Tasking is something I am used to now
whoisbid - awesome - I am better than I used to be - but still much more effective focusing on one task. LOL Thanks for commenting.
A great article but much more open for debate. I am good at multi tasking and it is just natural
ubanichijioke - thanks for commenting -- and you are correct - this could be debated -- i did however say they my observations were more "in general" as there are men good at multi tasking and some women that are not!
Thanks again
Great Article and it shows well from the responses you have got here in the comments area, I believe women are natural multi tasking experts and although I have tried to keep talking to more than one person at once plus trying to make a cup of tea, I find I always spill the sugar over the side of the cup or just totally blank out of the conversation at hand.
Voted up!
Mark - goes to show - just enjoy the tea - talk later LOL ...... thanks for reading and commenting.
I have a feeling this hub and it's comments could go on and on...hot topic handled well. Seriously, you wrote it up and made it so entertaining but I'm sure there are people on both sides of this fence with strong opinions! As for the DNA thing, think about it, tending the camp while hubby was off hunting wifey had to cook, keep the fire going, clean the hides and watch the children....I'm with Cheeky Girl, "Hmmmm" Voted up, interesting and funny.
tillsontitan - LOL - for sure it could be a hot topic. it was fun to write and I thank you for dropping by to comment. I appreciate the votes too.
Neil, great hub. I enjoyed a lot of the content, in particular, the paragraph, "Can you imagine how that would look at home if a woman could only do one thing at a time. Little Johnny would have the cat shaved with his dads razor, the dinner on the stove would burn all because little Suzzie needed her diapers changed." When I first read the title, I had to check this hub out because I am a genuine multi-tasker. Work in a law firm by day, make wedding cakes as a hobby, and am involved in reading and writing every single night. Oh wait, maybe I'm just crazy...thumbs up to you and your thoughtful and positive mind.
ytsenoh - Wow - thanks for such a detailed, thoughtful and praise filled comment. I bet you put the icing on all the documents you do at the law office. Is that multi-tasking? You bet! Thanks for the comment - very much appreciated.
Hi Neil,
Love this article and the humor behind it (do Canadians spell the English way or the American way?) I laughed out loud when I read through this and one thought kept flashing through my mind: Neil HAS to see the show, "Defending the Caveman," a comedy (play) written by American, Rob Becker.
This play has been seen in 45 countries and has been running in South Africa (one man show) for well over a decade! I thought it was one of the most hysterically funny shows I had ever seen and laughed from beginning to end. Here is a link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSHy4xuIRpU&feature
Thanks for the memories... man=hunter; woman=gatherer
'Nuff said? :)
Voted up and funny!
Suelynn - so glad you enjoyed the humor. As for spellin - I did done got greyed 12, but I arent the best speller nor does my grammur follow any rules other than my own. Thus for me, it does not matter if it is English or American spellin.... either way I am greatfull for spell cheque tecknology!
LOL, Neil! Your sense of humour/humor is intact infact and I LOVE your spelling! Just wondered whether I would have to revert to English English and not American English when I moved to your neck of the woods - so to speak! ;)
Suelynn - You will do fine..... we speak both kinds of English here! LOL
Thanks for the link - I laughed and found this one from it
LOL! Loved that! Thank you for the link, Neil... much truth spoken in that excerpt... Laughed Out Loud a lot. :)
Loved It!!!!!!!!
Thank You Camo Girl.... drop by again!
Neil, I loved this article and your humor! Thank you for bringing a chuckle to my day. I have to agree with the fact that most women can multi-task a lot better than men. However, men are so much better in other things, so we complement each other perfectly. The opposite attracts, right? Lol!
Brilliant hub - excellent theme. I like the way you tackle the subject matter with humour. I love it. I've read that a woman's left and right brain work in tandem - in an entirely different way from a man's. And that's why a woman can manage to deal with several tasks at once - unlike a man who can only manage to deal with one at a time to achieve a good end result.
Sannet - Glad I brought a smile to your day.... opposites do attract... to bad you are not next door.. LOL
Thanks for dropping by and taking time to comment.
Sheila - Thank You for the praise. No doubt our brains are hard wired differently.... I appreciate you taking time to comment. thanks
I know in my experience you are correct for the most part. There are always exceptions, but generally that is just the way it seems to be. I know I am not very good at multitasking, but most of the women I have known are. Great Hub, I voted it up and funny; one at a time of course.
dmop -- LOL love your closing comment - "One at a time of course" ... cool humor. Thanks for the time you took to read and comment plus I appreciate your votes. thanks
Neil Sperling Hub Author 12 months ago
Make sure to see "turn your faults into friends." New mind technology that truly works. My Link for that is above!