Time Flies Differently Here

For many years, scholars in the field of international management have highlighted the significant cultural differences one must face in understanding various orientations to the concept of time. In countries known as ‘sequential’ or ‘monochronic’ (e.g. the United States), appointments are kept, one thing leads to another and schedules generally do not deviate from the plan. In ‘synchronous’ or ‘polychronic’ cultures, appointments may be held simultaneously, start late, and end even later. The latter group of cultures tends to place a higher value on relationships than on meeting deadlines or pre-determined schedules. In case it isn’t already clear, Rwanda is a polychronic culture. Perhaps nowhere is this clearer than in surveying the meetings we have (or do not have) on the calendar each day. To give you a glimpse, allow me to share some of my favorite reasons scheduled meetings have been missed in recent weeks…

Ranking (Time Explanation Received) and Rationale for Delay

#12 (30 minutes before scheduled start) “Actually, because of the Umaganda holiday, we are not allowed to meet until after noon”

#11 (During meeting) “I apologize- the medication I am on makes it very difficult to stay awake”

#10 (1 hour after scheduled start) “We could not meet this week because of the death in the family”

#9 (3 hours after scheduled start) “He has a delegation of Americans he is showing the factory… stay there and he may come eventually”

#8 (45 minutes after scheduled start) “The line at the bank was terrible this morning”

#7 (1 hour & 2 hours after scheduled start) “I’m on my way coming”

#6 (2 hours after scheduled start) “His Excellency, the President, urgently asked to see a report today from my (govt.) agency”

#5 (8 hours before scheduled start) “I forgot- I need to drive two hours to see my dentist at that time”

#4 (15 minutes after scheduled start) “I was waiting for the rain to stop so I could catch a moto-taxi”

#3 (1 hour before scheduled start) “He would like to be there, but he must organize his daughter’s wedding today”

#2 (30 minutes after scheduled start) “My house and business burned down last night… could we re-schedule?”

#1 (15 minutes after scheduled start) “I know we confirmed the meeting last night, but I forgot I’m getting married this morning and need to submit some documents”

Thankfully, we have learned to laugh and roll with such delays. On any given day, it seems four scheduled meetings will materialize, two will not and at least one will be added impromptu. Any given in-person meeting may be interrupted by between two to eight mobile phone conversations or texts. For us, patience and flexibility is key. Thankfully, Rwandan businesses are aware of their need to honor schedules better if they are to be deemed serious. In a small country like this, ‘gatekeepers’ are rare, and there is perhaps nobody you could not schedule a meeting with if you tried. But no matter which Rwandans you intend to meet, you should not be surprised to hear excuses such as those we’ve listed here.

Onward and upward,

-Carter