Is 1pm, 1pm?

Okay, we can make 12 noon or 2am. It makes no difference.

The topic is the same.

When we say that we meet at 1pm, or we will arrive in 5 minutes, do we really mean what we say?

What is the nature of time?

Is it scientific or is it psychological?

I have been around for 30 plus years and I have been taught in Business school that people do what is measured. Therefore the ability to quantify our Key Performance Indicators is quintessential to our bonuses.

Producing the outcomes that meet or exceed the expectations measured in numbers is the way to corporate excellence.

We achieve that either by volume (produce x number of chips without defects), by time variant (hit $10,000 sales revenue by 1 fiscal quarter) or via special initiative (bring the project to Go-live).

The more specific the number in measure, the better it is. However, that heuristic failed miserably when used in a social setting.

One classic example — Meeting time.

It turns out that all of us have a different way of thinking about time. If we are to arrange for a 1pm lunch meeting at the MacDonald’s situated at the basement of the shopping mall, then we are extremely likely to see the following.

• Some will arrive at the basement of the shopping mall at 1pm, decide that others will be late so they go grocery shopping first.
• Some will arrive at the mall entrance by 1pm thinking that they are on time for the appointment and therefore cease rushing and start strutting.
• Some will arrive at the platform of the Metro station which is situated within the shopping mall thinking to themselves that they are on time because they have actually reached the mall and start texting their friends stating that they are on time and will be walking over (slowly).

Everyone who is late thinks that they are not, simply because they are within the vicinity and not because they have arrived at the actual destination (MacDonald’s).

I am sure I am not the only one who is baffled. 1pm might be a variant in consideration, but the interpretation of which seems to be extremely flexible.

This brings me to Albert Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity when he states that Space and Time are 1 flexible Fabric of our Universe and it is extremely flexible and malleable.

From a cynical point of view, I see Einstein not just as a Theoretical Physicist. He is also a top-grade social scientist.

Of course, I digressed.

In fact, what apparently works for Management Science flies in the face of social sciences.

Where human behaviour is in play, specificity is an undesirable attribute to have because Time in consideration is secondary relative to the quality of companionship given time spent.

And we all know this.

When we are deep into our conversation backstabbing our bosses, complaining about our weirdo colleagues and annoying kids — We cannot bear to exit the lunch table. Deeper bonds have been forged.

How do I know that?

Easy.

I heard this over and over.

“Darling, I didn’t know that you have been here for 30 minutes! Oh my, time really flies. Hang on a second. Give me 3 minutes and I will get to the car-park. Don’t be angry!”

That was 10 minutes ago.

Well, you know.

And one case in point. Just how many white lies have been committed in one conversation?

“Hang on a second”, “Give me 3 minutes” and etc …

This is how I reconcile what I hear versus what I see.

Friendly lies make a quality Life.

Probably.

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About the Author:

As a Consultant by training, I believe in making the complex simple.

Because simplicity adds value.

Simplicity helps us gain clarity, and clarity helps us to grow.

And if we are not growing, then what’s the point of anything else?

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