Polychronic/Monochronic Organizers
Are you familiar with polychronic and monochronic organizational styles or high context/low context communication? These styles are culturally based and learning about them may serve to help us better relate to those we live and work with. The following is a link to one of the most concise articles I’ve found on this…
http://www.harley.com/writing/time-sense.html
As for the polychronic organizer the book “A Perfect Mess” may shed some light on why many people (actually 2/3’s of us) organize the way we do. If you take time to look into this, I encourage you reflect on those students and colleagues who may drive you crazy with their seeming lack of order which is anything but.
http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-646-The-Workplace-Is-a-Messier-Desk-Better/
http://www.ericabrahamson.com/mybooks/aperfectmess.html
On how culture affects communication…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tIUilYX56E
Comparative Time Orientation Chart…
| Monochronic (Linear) Time Orientation |
Polychronic (Circular)Time Orientation |
| Views time as an entity to be saved, spent, or lost |
Views time as fluid, flexible |
| Completes one task before starting another |
Works on multiple tasks before finishing any one |
| Focuses on the task to be completed within a certain time frame |
Focuses on and nurtures the relationships represented by the tasks |
| Separates work from family and social life |
Views work, family and social life as one |
| Seeks to maintain rigid appointment schedule |
Reacts as the day’s events evolve |
Low/High Context Chart…
| Low Context Culture |
High Context Culture |
| Believes in explicit (literal) communication |
Utilizes figurative and approximate language |
| Follows the letter of the law |
Believes laws can be shaped by circumstances |
| Keeps job tasks separate from relationships |
Sees task as a function of the relationship |
| Uses direct style in writing and speaking |
Prefers indirect style in writing and speaking |
| Values individual initiative and decision making |
Expects decision making within the relationship |
| Relies on verbal communication |
Relies on nonverbal communication |
| Becomes uncomfortable with silence |
Respects and utilizes silence |
| Presents facts, statistics and other details |
Subordinates use of detailed information |
Mechanistic/Humanistic View of Employee Chart…
| Mechanistic Employee |
Humanistic Employee |
| Works for employer in exchange for wage sand benefits |
Thinks of self as group member with personal ties |
| Changes jobs if better opportunity arises |
Remains on the job out of loyalty to “family” |
| Can be dismissed if not performing job satisfactorily |
Keeps job even if performance is unsatisfactory |
| Views self as a commodity |
Views self as part of a “family |
CrossTalk: Communicating in a Multicultural Workplace, Sherron B. Kenton and Deborah Valentine, Prentice-Hall, 1997.
As educators, we are much like the cogs of a wheel creating forward motion. Diverse organizational styles and communication are needed to meet the diverse needs of our students. Having like organizational styles and communication is akin to all cogs spinning in the same direction going nowhere.
The dichotomy of the educational system is it touts monochronic values while imposing copious polychronic tasks. This in itself can cause confusion which produces stress, which in turn detracts from effective teaching and learning much like the wearing down of each cog that is not benefiting from the thrust of its opposite. Having a better understanding of the above styles can help us all in our interactions with each other.
We all have so much to share…
I admit that over the years I have become increasingly enamored of politics and the guiding and misguiding effect it has on us all. It is no secret then that I woke early today to turn on the news so I wouldn’t miss anything. Watching a reminiscent clip of past inaugurations – my first kindergarten classroom and one particular student came to mind. The year was 1993 and I was thrilled to accept a cardboard replica of President Clinton for my classroom. Of course, I had to take a picture of my students with the president’s replica and share some of the presidential stories I heard. My favorite story to share with my students that day was the fact that several of President Clinton’s kindergarten friends were serving on his White House staff.
Teacher Views Today 