Cultures vary in terms of how people view time. Scholar Edward Hall (1997b) distinguished between two time orientations: monochronic (M-time) and polychronic (P-time). People who have a monochronic time orientation view time as a precious resource. It can be saved, spent, wasted, lost, or made up, and it can even run out. If you’re an M-time person, “spending time” with someone or “making time” in your schedule to share activities with him or her sends the message that you consider that person—and your relationship—important (E. T. Hall, 1983). You may view time both as a gift you give others to show your affection and as a tool for punishing someone (“I no longer have time for you”).

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People who have a polychronic time orientation don’t view time as a resource to be spent, saved, or guarded. They don’t consider time of day (what time it is) as especially important or relevant to daily activities. Instead, they’re flexible when it comes to time, and they believe that harmonious interaction with others is more important than “being on time” or sticking to a schedule.

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Differences in time orientation can create problems when people from different cultures make appointments with each other (E. T. Hall, 1983). For example, those with an M-time orientation, such as many Americans, Canadians, Swiss, and Germans, often find it frustrating if P-time people show up for a meeting after the scheduled start time. In P-time cultures, such as those in Arabian, African, Caribbean, and Latin American countries, people think that arriving 30 minutes or more after a meeting’s scheduled start time is perfectly acceptable, and that it’s OK to change important plans at the last minute.

You can improve your communication by understanding other people’s views of time. Learn about the time orientation of a destination or country before you travel there. For example, when Steve’s family traveled to Saint Martin in the Caribbean, they quickly learned to schedule taxi pickup times for an hour before they actually wanted to be picked up. Why? Because Saint Martin runs on P-time. If you want to be picked up at 10:30 a.m., you had better tell the cabby 9:30. Even then, you never know whether he will be there by 10:30 or perhaps decide not to drive at all on that day—for example, if he unexpectedly runs into a friend and decides to hang out with him instead. You should also respect others’ time orientation. If you’re an M-time person interacting with a P-time individual, don’t suddenly dash off to your next appointment because you feel you have to stick to your schedule. Your communication partner will likely think you’re rude. If you’re a P-time person interacting with an M-time individual, realize that he or she may get impatient with a long, leisurely conversation or see a late arrival to a meeting as inconsiderate. In addition, avoid criticizing or complaining about behaviors that stem from other people’s time orientations. Instead, accept the fact that people view time differently, and be willing to adapt your own expectations and behaviors accordingly.