The African journey with the clock: The challenge of time precision

By John S. QUAISIE

In today’s African society, with all the benefits of time gadgets and the advantage of modern technology, many of us are finding it difficult to keep pace with precise time schedules.

The common excuse

Many public and private workers report to work late, with common excuses such as:

• I waited for a long time for a bus.
• I was caught up in traffic.
• I live far away.

None of the above reasons ‘holds water’.  If employers tolerated such   excuses, how would companies and organizations make any meaningful progress in today’s highly competitive business environment?

The value of time resource

Unfortunately, even as educated people, some of us consider a few minutes of lateness to be normal.  When we are questioned about such lateness, we would reply,

“But I was late for only a few minutes.”

• You arrange with a taxi driver to pick you at 10:00 am. The driver shows up at 10:25 am.
• A worker is to report to work at 8:00 am. They arrive at the company gate at 8:10 am.
• We are to be in Church by 8:00 am, but some of us reach the Church premises at 8:20 am.

Attitudinal barriers

It is interesting to note the reasons some of us advance for being late to meetings and public functions.

1. The meeting will not start early and I do not want to waste my time waiting for others.
2. The meeting will close late, so I do not need to be there early.

With the availability of modern tools for managing time, it is expected that we would be very punctual at meetings and functions and regulate our interpersonal activities to a great advantage.  Today, if you asked a young person to tell you the time, they would most likely consult the phones in their pocket or handbag.  Having the needed timing tools around us, why do we continue to tolerate lateness in our daily personal and group interactions?

Addressing the Challenge

Individuals and groups determined to go by strict time precision, encounter problems in the traditional African society. Even in urban environment, many individuals, groups and organizations experience challenges with respect to keeping to planned time schedules for starting and ending meetings.

Leaders of companies and organizations who are desirous to make maximum use of workers’ time for increased productivity, have tried to devise various techniques to motivate their members. Some have even offered attractive financial reward for high levels of punctuality.

The challenge, however, is how to maintain the record level of punctuality when the motivation packages are no more applicable.  In the final analysis, it boils down to self-discipline.

ROLE MODELS

In the midst of the various obstacles and challenges in society, some individuals have managed, through self-discipline, to excel in the area of time management in the African environment.

The Law Professor

One day, a famous Ghanaian law professor (now deceased) shared with me his experience with the traditional concept of time. This was an experienced law professional, who ‘did not play with his time’. He lectured at a university in Ghana, and later in his retirement, he also did consultancy work for several local and international organizations.

• In his consulting business, he would often complete his work ahead of the agreed time. In many cases, he would rather call the leadership of the organizations, to express his concern over their failure to collect their completed documents on time.

One day, the law professor shared an interesting experience with me.  According to his narration, the head of his extended family invited him to attend an important meeting in his home village.  He made sure that he was punctual at the meeting .  Unfortunately, it took a long time – about one and half hours – to have a good quorum to start the meeting.

Out of courtesy, the professor decided to stay and participate fully to the end of the meeting.  While he was very concerned about the late arrival of members, many of the participants were relaxed and engaged in conversation in smaller groups.  The meeting ended about two hours after the originally scheduled closing time.

The silent protest

Some time later, the family head invited him again to another meeting, which was to start at 9:00 am and close at 12: 00 noon.  As usual, the professor arrived very early and waited patiently for the rest of the family members.

This time too, the meeting started one hour late.  The professor participated actively in the meeting.  At exactly 12:00 noon, when the discussions were at their peak, he picked up his bag and asked for permission to leave for home.  The family head and all the members at the meeting were very surprised.  They needed his input badly. In spite of the urgent appeals made by the family head and members, the professor left the meeting, entered his car and drove away.

The new order

The professor’s action became the talk of the village. At the next family meeting, the professor arrived early, as usual.  This time, however, an encouraging number of members got seated within fifteen minutes after the official start time.  The meeting started about 20 minutes late.  The family leaders were determined to benefit fully from the professor’s input, before he would leave for home. That day, the meeting ended exactly at the scheduled time.

The professor continued his demonstration of time management at other family meetings and social gatherings in his village.  Some of the family members learnt from his example and started being punctual at family meetings and other gatherings.  Through his action, the professor helped to change the attitude of many people in the local community, to appreciate the importance of good time management.

A shining role model

Some Chief Executive Officers of groups and organizations, including leaders of religious institutions, endeavour to set a good example for their members to follow.  In my interaction with Christian leaders and pastors, I have found some individuals who have gone a long way to make very good use of time resource for impactful experience.

One of  leaders, whom I admire for being a role model in the area of time management, is Rt. Rev. Samuel Kwami Hodasi, a past Bishop of Accra Diocese of The Methodist Church Ghana.  People who have interacted with him in public and private life would testify to the Bishop’s exemplary life of discipline.  He would always start meetings on time and end on time.

Bishop Hodasi makes sure that he adheres to scheduled times for functions. Unless he is held up by some emergency, the Bishop would always reach his destination before the scheduled time.  After his superannuation as Bishop of Accra, Rt Rev. S.K. Hodasi served for some years at Bethel Methodist Church (located at West Adenta in Accra), where I worship.

Respecting time schedules

During his mandate at Bethel, he made sure that all programmes and activities of the Church were well structured and meetings respected the allocated time space.    Leaders Meeting (Management) sessions were also organized strictly according to the scheduled times.

His wife, Mrs Jesse Hodasi, also believes in good time management. Today, even at an advanced age of about 90 years, Rt Rev. Samuel K. Hodasi, with his wife, still attends functions on time.  He and his wife are, indeed, a shining example to both the youth and adult, in the area of time management.

In an environment where people pay less attention to time precision, there are some individuals who are determined to make maximum use of time resource – in an efficient and effective way – to add value to their product and services and impact society positively.

John is an HR/Management Practitioner

WhatsApp/Phone No. 0244599628

E-Mail: [email protected]

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