Time Will Tell
Recently I had a conversation with a friend of mine about how I use time to measure personal and organizational maturity.
The surest measure of mental and emotional maturity - in both individuals and in organizations - is their perspective on time. There is an absolute and direct correlation between maturity - and all things maturity implies, such as good decision making, ability to set and pursue goals, ability to overcome and work through challenges - and the perspective on time. There are five combinations of time perspective to look out for:
1 - If a person (or group) has a short time horizon backwards they lack the ability to learn from the past or to successfully take control over their present circumstances. They are stuck where they are and are very unlikely to grow, and unlikely to be able to consistently behave or act responsibily.
2 - If they have a short time horizon forwards, they lack the skills and ability to set and achieve long term goals, and are unlikely overcome short term obstacles. They are likely to get distracted easily, and to lose focus on priorities.
3 - Short backwards and long forwards. Likely to act irresponsibility and use short term destructive behaviors towards themselves and others to achieve long term goals.
4 - Long backwards and short forwards. Likely to perceive themselves as already perfect - or, at the very least - unable to change or make further personal or organizational progress. Set in their ways - stuck in the present.
5 - Long backwards and long forwards. Able to make responsible, constructive decisions based on experience, accepting of change and growth, and able to work through short term obstacles to achieve long term goals.
If you are dealing with anything but a 5 in your personal life, make sure your expectations of what that person will and can do is realistic - or the relationship will not work. If your organization is anything but a 5, the prospects for long term success are pretty dim.
