Tempus Fugit:Time Management Differences

Westerners doing business in East Asia have grown accustomed to the many differences in the way timekeeping is handled. However, it still pays to bear in mind some important points relating to time management.

Patience Is a Virtue

There is a perception among Chinese and Japanese businesspeople that Westerners are constantly in a hurry to get things signed and sealed as quickly as possible. This eagerness can sometimes suggest that something untoward is afoot or, at the very least, that the Westerner is rushing things. East Asian businesspeople generally like to be given adequate time to review contracts and agreements without feeling pressured. This can frustrate the Western businessperson as it appears like unnecessary procrastination, but remember: Haste makes waste should be your motto when doing business in East Asia.

On the Dot

There are marked differences in attitudes toward timekeeping even within Western societies. Northern Europeans, for example, tend to place more emphasis on punctuality. Germans, in particular, pride themselves on being on time and will often be early, even for informal occasions. Not so Italians, who have no issue with turning up late, even for business meetings. In general, Westerners will accept a modicum of tardiness. Being fashionably late (10 minutes or so) to less formal events is considered OK, though a phone call is advisable. In Japanese culture, however, lateness in any form is frowned upon as impolite and disrespectful.


東西時間管理學

在東亞做生意的西方人已習慣兩者在時間觀念方面的許多差異。不過，有些關於時間管理的重點還是值得銘記在心。

耐心是種美德
中國與日本的商務人士普遍認為西方人總是急著要把案子談妥。有時候，這種熱切的態度可能會讓人覺得有什麼不好的事情在進行中，或者至少會讓人覺得西方人操之過急。東亞的企業人士通常喜歡能有足夠的時間從容檢視合同與協議。西方的企業人士則可能因此感到挫折，因為這看來像是不必要的拖延。但請記住：在東亞做生意時，應該秉持欲速則不達這句座右銘。

嚴守時限
即便在西方社會裡，看待時間的態度也存在著明顯的差異。舉例而言，歐洲北部的人往往更注重守時。德國人尤以準時自豪，而且經常會提早到，就算是非正式場合也一樣。義大利人則非如此。他們不覺得晚到有什麼問題，甚至是出席商務會議時。一般而言，西方人能夠接受些微的延遲。在比較不正式的活動中，小小遲到一下（十分鐘左右）通常沒關係，但最好還是打個電話通知一聲。不過在日本文化裡，任何形式的遲到都會被視為無禮且不尊重他人。

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