The Weather During Vacation

The first few days of the year are usually—at least in the Southern Cone—days of vacation, rest, and a bit of a break from it all. A nice dip in the ocean, plenty of sunshine, lovely naps, long walks, and lots of reading. This year I took a few days off and was able to use them to read and write quite a bit.

Days at the Beach and Rest

And there’s something I think we especially enjoy during vacations: that lighter, more flexible relationship with time. We allow ourselves to wake up without an alarm clock, take endless naps, and take everything at a more leisurely pace. Personally, I find it quite difficult to achieve that sense of disconnection. It takes me several days and requires a very conscious effort: putting down my phone, not trying to “make the most of my time,” not wanting to squeeze every little moment out of the beach, and not feeling like I can’t miss a thing. But, at times, I manage it. And that’s when something truly beautiful emerges: a feeling of deep and very real rest.

From that place, almost without even trying, I began to reflect on something I’ve been thinking about and reading about for a while: how malleable the concept of time is and the diversity of conceptions that exist across different cultures.

In this series, we’ve been exploring how culture and values impact the way we work and lead in diverse environments. In previous posts, we discussed ethnocentrism, culture shock, cultural contexts, and Hofstede’s dimensions. Today, we’re diving into the dimension of time.

Time as a Cultural Construction

The way we think about the present—and how we relate to the past and the future—is deeply personal and deeply cultural. It is shaped by countless variables: the history of peoples, political stability or instability, economic predictability, the environmental context, climatic conditions, the availability or lack of infrastructure, social ties, and many others.

Not everyone can experience and enjoy the present in the same way. The predictability of what we can do now, in ten minutes, in half an hour, or in four hours varies completely depending on the context.So too is the way we face the future—how much flexibility it demands of us, what scope for action we feel we have today to shape it. And, at the same time, how we reinterpret the past and our lived experiences.

In Malay, there is a fascinating word, “pisanzapra,” which roughly translates to “the time it takes to eat a banana.” Just imagining this says a great deal about that culture’s relationship with time and nature—and about how relative the very concept of time can be.

Today, however, we live constantly tied to schedules, deadlines, and the constant pressure of the clock. Often our days are so intense that we even have to schedule time for rest, exercise, or those activities that do us good, because time seems to slip through our fingers.

Monochronic vs. Polychronic Cultures

This relationship with time has been extensively studied in anthropology. In her book *The Culture Map* (which I never tire of recommending!), Erin Meyer builds on the work of Edward T. Hall, who, in *The Dance of Life: The Other Dimension of Time*, posits the existence of two broad types of cultures: monochronic (M-time) and polychronic (P-time).

Chronological cultures view time as something tangible, concrete, and linear. They focus on one task at a time, value punctuality, and tend to interpret deadlines as firm commitments.

In contrast, polychronic cultures have a much more flexible relationship with time. Several things can happen simultaneously, people tend to be flexible about schedules, and plans can be adapted depending on the context.

The classic “I’ll be right there” or “I’ll do it now” can mean very different things depending on the culture. For some people, it means “right this very moment.” For others, it might mean in ten minutes, half an hour, or even longer.

The Challenge in Development and Leadership Teams

Obviously, this is one of the major challenges when working with diverse teams. The concept of time is never the same; it’s shaped by personal and cultural experiences.

How many minutes late is too late for an online meeting?

Does it change if the meeting is in person?

How flexible are the deadlines we set or agree to, really?

In global teams, failing to address these differences often leads to friction, misunderstandings, and unnecessary frustration. On the other hand, when we’re able to discuss expectations, agreements, and margins for flexibility, time ceases to be a source of tension and becomes a tool for better collaboration.

Recognizing that our way of managing time is neither the “only” nor the “correct” one is key to leading, building trust, and creating spaces where diversity is not only tolerated but transformed into a true advantage for innovation.

Final Thoughts

The next time you feel frustrated because a deadline wasn’t met as you expected or a meeting didn’t start at the exact time, I invite you to ask yourself: What conception of time is at play here? Understanding these differences not only reduces stress but also strengthens trust and collaboration in multicultural teams.

And, at the same time, it’s also an invitation to reexamine our own relationship with time and rest. Giving ourselves permission to pause, to slow down, and to not constantly “make the most of” every minute isn’t a waste of time—it’s a way to take care of ourselves and sustain our work, our creativity, and our ability to lead with clarity over the long term.

See you next time!

P.S.: If you’re interested in cultural awareness and how to empower multicultural teams, I invite you to follow me on Substack. Subscribe here and get every new post in this series instantly. 🚀🌍