Page 40 - Time Management

Mancini02.qxd 1/16/2003 4:21 PM Page 25
A Few Myths About Managing Your Time
Cultural Perspectives
There are 20 blackbirds sitting in a tree.You shoot one with
a slingshot. How many are left? 25
A typical “Western World”—almost reflexive—response will be
“19, of course.” But ask, say, a traditional African tribesman the same
question and his response—likely to be equally reflexive—would more
probably be “None.”
And, of course, he’d be right.The remaining 19 are no longer sitting
in the tree; they’ve flown off.To this traditional African, the need for
interaction and the instant communication of danger among the birds
would be obvious.
Much of what we term the “Western World” applies a kind of
knee-jerk rationalist perspective to all problems—even those which
would be better addressed by a more intuitive or interpersonal
approach.The “truth” about any situation may be more complex and
have more components than our own sometimes narrow cultural
reflexes would suggest.

following factors:
• If you do business with foreign companies, familiarity with
their attitudes toward time and other cultural values will
smooth the way to lucid and efficient communication.
• If your boss or a colleague comes from another country,
you may be better able to anticipate his or her expecta-
tions.
• If you supervise a multicultural work force, you’ll gain
insights into your employees’ ideas of efficiency and can
help them to adjust to the time and/or cultural environ-
ment that they’re now working in.
Time management is deeply embedded in culture.

Type 1: Linear Type 2: Overlapped
One task/person at a time Many tasks/persons at a time
Precise schedules Loose schedules
Punctual Unpunctual
Clearly stated goals Goals often unstated
Task oriented Socially oriented