The Importance of Multi-tasking as a CEO
Starting his career at 16 as a nightclub doorman, Andy Scott now heads Rel Capital, a private investment company for businesses, which turned over £25 million in 2017 and is set to double this year. Scott became a millionaire at 26 by selling houses and after losing everything, he reinvented his business. Apart from sailing across the Atlantic and flying planes, he can be found tweeting about boxing and business at @Andy_Scott_REL.
Below, Andy delves into the topic of multi-tasking—the importance of employing this skill as a CEO, and the benefits that can be reaped from its utilisation.
Life at the top is hectic, it’s fast paced and it’s competitive, so whether we like it or not, multitasking is an inherent part of our new 24-hour working life of a CEO. From communicating on the phone whilst jotting down some notes, to sending a quick email on your way to the office, it is fundamentally unavoidable and an essential skill if you want to maintain a successful business. Having owned, operated and invested across a number of businesses, I wanted to share my advice on the benefits of multi-tasking:
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Taking on every task oneself is, of course, not always the most productive approach, and can be hugely detrimental if you try to juggle too many balls in the air at once. The most vital skill, therefore, lies in your ability to delegate to the right people effectively. Simultaneously multitasking whilst also knowing when to accept your weaknesses and share out your numerous responsibilities is key.
Know how to motivate yourself
Each person finds their optimum productivity in a different form. For me, around 6:30 in the morning, when the rest of the world is rolling out of bed, is a great time to be proactive, be at my desk undisturbed and to get things done. Failing that, plugging in and getting motivation from music is always an effective option, some days call for upbeat 80’s classics, others require some booming house tunes (when others are not around).
Keep yourself in the loop
Multitasking and delegating effectively are by no means simple tasks, so organising yourself and keeping updated with all the goings on within every area of the company is crucial. It’s always a good idea to sit in on weekly team and sales meetings, yet also arrive unannounced from time to time, so that you are able to gauge what is really going on, rather than witness what people may want you to hear. Make sure to request agendas and meeting notes to ensure you can easily catch up if you can’t make the meetings.
No favouritism
Most CEOs start off in a specific industry or job and, as a result, can be tempted to spend more time on that than anything else. It’s important to not let your personal preferences determine where your priorities lie and end up showing favouritism, leaving the other areas neglected. Similarly, every CEO should ensure that they spend their time equally between those areas of the company which are struggling, as well as those that are flying. The flyers can support the strugglers for a while, but if you have no flyers then you have no business. So many people fail by neglecting their core business.
Building a good rapport with your employees is also of the utmost importance. Simple initiatives, such as taking the time out of your day to invite people for an informal catch up away from the office, will help you to create a unified working atmosphere, as well as allowing you to decipher which areas of the company, if any, require a little more attention.
To maintain that sense of cohesion throughout the company, having an assistant is always a great idea. Not only to help you with any day to day challenges that may arise, but to also be your eyes and ears on the ground. They should be trustworthy and personable, so that they become someone who acts as a vital bridge between you and your other employees. It can be lonely as captain of the ship, you need good lieutenants supporting you every step of the way.
