Do you have that acquaintance who constantly runs late?
You arrange to meet them for lunch at noon, only to find yourself still waiting 20 minutes later, receiving a text saying, “On my way!”
It’s natural to feel slighted and question whether they value your time or care about punctuality.
Researcher Dawna Ballard suggests that habitual lateness might not necessarily indicate a lack of respect.
“I’m sure many of your audience know individuals who appear to mishandle time,” Ballard shared with The Current’s host, Matt Galloway.
“For many, that’s not the case.”
Exploring Your Time Orientation
According to Ballard, consistently running late or being excessively early often stems from an individual’s inherent time perception, influenced by a combination of beliefs, biology, and cultural upbringing.
Termed as “time personality,” it signifies the innate and often subconscious approach to time perception and management.
Just as some people naturally lean towards detail-oriented or introverted tendencies, others exhibit a more flexible or structured relationship with time, Ballard noted.
Ballard, an associate professor specializing in organizational communication and technology at the University of Texas, challenges the prevalent emphasis on speed and productivity in her upcoming book, Time By Design.
She advocates for genuine efficiency by blending fast-paced and deliberate communication styles to enhance collaboration and success in the long run.
Influenced by Various Factors
Ballard dissects time personality into “12 dimensions,” encompassing aspects such as deadline urgency, multitasking preferences, and schedule adaptability.
For instance, are you more inclined towards the past, present, or future? Do you thrive in structured environments or prefer spontaneity?
One biological element she highlights is “time blindness,” prevalent in neurodivergent individuals like those with ADHD, making time tracking challenging and demanding heightened effort to adhere to schedules.
“It’s akin to individuals like me, with no innate sense of direction prone to getting lost,” Ballard remarked. “It’s a biological trait where the internal clock functions differently.”
Piers Steel, a professor at the University of Calgary specializing in culture, motivation, and productivity, concurs that time perception can be innate.
He suggests that our internal body clocks, a focus of chronobiology, classify individuals into two categories: morning larks, early risers energized in the morning, and night owls, more alert and productive during evenings.
However, Steel notes that societal structures predominantly favor morning larks, creating challenges for night owls and potentially impacting focus, energy levels, and punctuality.
Cultural influences significantly shape time behaviors, Ballard asserts.
Some cultures adopt a “monochronic” approach, valuing punctuality and linear time perception, while others embody a “polychronic” mindset, prioritizing multitasking and relationships over strict schedules.
Ballard proposes a simple self-assessment: imagine being engrossed in a conversation but needing to leave for a doctor’s appointment. Can you