A frequent source of conflict and exasperation for many managers and leaders with whom I consult is the way Millennials multitask at work. Multitasking is often interpreted by Traditionalists and Boomers as not paying respectful attention to the person, meeting, or customer with whom they are working. This reaction comes as a surprise to Millennials who never meant to be rude. Millennial feels strongly that they need to—and are effective at—using multiple modes of communication simultaneously.

The scientific merits of multitasking and time-management techniques are argued at length in other books and articles, so I won’t do that here. However, what is critical for people working with Millennials to understand is that no matter where you fall on the argument of multitasking being effective, Millennials believe they can multitask and will proceed to do it whether you agree or not.

Currently, the estimation is that an individual sees 3,000-7,000 images or advertisements a day, emerging through video games, computers, digital music, digital images, and the Internet, along with lots and lots of television. You don’t hear Millennials complaining about information overload because they are ignoring most of it. While other adults are frustrated by the number of text messages, instant messages, e-mails, and voicemails coming at them, Millennials are rapidly sorting through complex and sometimes massive amounts of information at proficiency levels many adults feel are impossible. Millennials have grown up with multitasking as a natural reality; instant messaging while doing homework, texting while watching a video, listening to their iPod while reading, chatting with friends on Facebook while eating. They have trained themselves to work and “watch” programs on their digital devices, tuning in their attention only at the critical points in the storyline. They don’t see it as a rude or distracting activity like it can be perceived by others. To a Millennial, having your earbuds in on the way to a meeting or while working on a project on the computer or walking down the hall is absolutely acceptable. It’s what they’ve done all their lives. To their colleagues, it can look like they are in self-induced comas.

Generationally Savvy Solutions:
Multitasking is a natural reality for Millennials. In a Survey U study, college students report multitasking45 percent of the time. At best, you will get divided attention from Millennials as a default. To make sure your Millennials are paying attention when you want them to, follow these guidelines:
• Be explicit when earbuds are acceptable in your environment
• Clarify whether using mobile phones for texting is allowed during meetings
• Provide consistent role modeling and examples of the behavior you require. (Remember the ole’ “Do as I say, not as I do” will not fly well with Millennials.
• Be rigorous about making meetings productive and well worth the time invested by each person to be off-line, off-the-grid, or unreachable. Those texts and IM’s are not all personal.