The Swiss Army Knife of Leadership: Why Multitasking Is Costing You Presence

In this blog, we explore why multitasking often costs us presence, clarity, and connection. Through a simple leadership analogy, you will discover how focusing on one thing at a time can improve effectiveness, relationships, and overall impact.

-Amber Long

We live in a world that celebrates doing more, achieving more, and staying ahead. Advice for leaders often points to one thing: multitasking. Some see it as essential for productivity, while others warn it can harm focus, relationships, and overall effectiveness.

Multitasking vs. Having Tools

Think of a Swiss Army knife. It is packed with multiple tools including scissors, a small knife, nail clippers, and even a fish scaler. Leaders often try to be like this tool, ready to do everything at once. But having multiple tools does not mean you can use them all simultaneously.

Imagine trying to scale a fish while using the tiny toothpick at the same time. It is messy, ineffective, and potentially painful. The same principle applies to life and leadership.

The Hidden Cost of Divided Attention

Multitasking may feel productive, but it comes at a cost. It divides your attention, reduces your effectiveness, and erodes your presence, the ability to fully engage with what is in front of you.

Even simple moments show this clearly. You might walk while listening to a podcast, but if someone joins you, you cannot fully focus on both. The choice matters, not just for productivity, but for connection and peace of mind.

Why We Multitask

Why do we multitask despite its costs? Often, it comes from fear or a need for control. Fear of missing something. Fear that if we do not do it all, it will not get done. Sometimes multitasking becomes a way to feel significant, a way to prove we are needed, capable, or productive.

Focus on One Thing at a Time

Effectiveness comes from learning when to use your tools and when to put some away. You can still be capable, skilled, and prepared, but real impact comes from doing one thing at a time with intention.

Choose one area of your life, one project, or one relationship, and commit to being fully present. Close the other tabs. Put the phone down. Give your attention where it is most needed. Notice how your clarity, creativity, and connection begin to shift.

Presence Is More Powerful Than Multitasking

Multitasking is tempting, but presence is powerful. Being fully present does not slow you down. It strengthens relationships, improves focus, and allows your work and leadership to be more meaningful. It is not about doing everything at once. It is about doing the right thing, at the right time, with your full attention.

A Final Invitation

If this resonates and you are ready to move from constant doing to intentional presence, I created a simple, reflective workbook titled From Multitasking to Presence. It is designed to help you identify what is driving your multitasking, what it may be costing you, and how to begin creating space for focused attention in your leadership, work, and relationships.

This is not about adding another task to your list. It is about learning how to be fully present where it matters most.