In monochronic cultures, time is linear. Being late, missing deadlines, or interrupting someone at work is unacceptable. In polychronic cultures, time is more flexible. People don't mind interruptions and aren't as strict about punctuality.
For example, Europe and North America are typically monochronic. Latin America, Arab countries, and parts of Africa are more polychronic.
When an individual's perception of time matches their culture, it's perfect! But in today's world, we travel a lot. If a monochronic person finds themselves in a polychronic country, they might feel overwhelmed by the chaos and lack of strict schedules. Imagine visiting Spain or Italy, where people don't rush, and plans often change because the bus driver decided to have coffee with a friend.
On the flip side, a polychronic person in a monochronic country might find life more pleasant, enjoying the structured environment without being in a constant hurry.
Let's dive deeper into the characteristics of polychronic and monochronic people.
Example: A polychronic designer works on three projects at once. They might start the day working on a logo, then switch to a website, and finish by working on a mobile app in the evening. They may take a walk or meet friends in between, then work late into the night.
Example: A monochronic programmer starts work at 9:00 AM sharp. They list tasks for the day, work on one project, and take regular breaks. If a client requests an urgent task switch, they might feel uncomfortable and ask for time to finish the current task first.
In today's globalized world, collaboration between people from different cultures is common, especially in remote work. This often leads to clashes between monochronic and polychronic approaches to time and work.
Imagine a scenario where a Swiss client (monochronic) hires a Ukrainian freelancer (polychronic with some monochronic traits):
This situation can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts. The Swiss client may view the Ukrainian freelancer as unreliable and unprofessional, while the freelancer may see the client as overly strict and inflexible.
For successful collaboration, both parties need to be aware of cultural differences and find compromises. They could agree on regular but not daily reports, set a flexible schedule with specific hours for meetings, and identify key deadlines that must be met while allowing flexibility in other project aspects.
These examples show how different approaches to time and work can impact freelancing and remote work, creating both advantages and challenges. Understanding this information can help you build an effective communication system within your team. We’ve written more about this in our previous posts.
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