Hey family,
Let’s talk about something real. We move in spaces where excellence isn’t just desired, it’s often required. We strive for success, build businesses, lead teams, and make our mark. In this journey, how we manage and respect time – both ours and others’ – plays a crucial role. It’s about professionalism. And a key part of that professionalism? Punctuality.
Now, we’ve all heard the term “CP Time” (Colored People’s Time). Sometimes it’s an inside joke, a nod to a more relaxed approach in social settings, or maybe even a defense mechanism rooted in complex histories. But let’s be honest: when it comes to the professional world – whether you’re clocking in, meeting a client, or collaborating on a project – relying on or excusing lateness under the banner of “CP Time” isn’t serving us. In fact, recent conversations among Black professionals show it directly undermines the respect and seriousness we command.
We recently looked at what happens when folks discuss this very issue – specifically, the frustration when someone is significantly late (like 30 minutes!) for a professional meeting without a word. The response from Black professionals in that conversation was loud and clear, and it pushes back hard against any notion that chronic lateness is acceptable within our community’s professional standards.
Here’s what our own people are saying (using aliases like “Participant A” for privacy):
- Punctuality IS Respect: Overwhelmingly, Black professionals view being on time as a fundamental sign of respect. As Participant A put it, “punctuality is a mutual sign of respect.” Showing up late, especially without notice, is seen as disrespectful to the other person and their commitments. Participant E echoed this, noting that time is “the only thing that we can’t get back,” making it incredibly valuable. When someone is late, the message received is often, “My time is more important than yours,” or as Participant C stated, “[They] don’t value you or your time.”
- Communication is Crucial (But Doesn’t Excuse Habitual Lateness): While things happen (traffic, emergencies), the lack of communication is often seen as the bigger offense. Participant F called uncommunicated lateness “plain unprofessional no matter which way you chop it up.” Participant G mentioned a willingness to accommodate delays if notified, showing that a simple call or text makes a difference. But this flexibility has limits; it doesn’t excuse a pattern of tardiness.
- Time = Value: For many Black entrepreneurs and professionals, time isn’t just abstract; it’s tangible. As Participant H bluntly stated, “my time is money!” Wasting someone’s time has real consequences for productivity, income, and opportunity.
- Don’t Call Me “Rigid” for Valuing My Time: When someone called out for lateness tries to flip the script by calling the punctual person “too rigid,” Black professionals aren’t buying it. Participant F saw this as an “attempt to manipulate you into going against your standards… while also them attempting to avoiding accountability.” Participant B called such excuses a “cop out.” Our community values accountability, not deflection.
- Professional Standards Matter: Participant J rightly pointed out that while social norms might differ, in the professional arena (specifically referencing North American standards where most of us operate), punctuality is the expected norm. Adhering to it ensures smooth operations and respects everyone involved.
arriving on time or early “sets a tone of professionalism and consideration.”
The Takeaway:
The analysis of these real conversations concludes that significant, uncommunicated lateness – the very behavior sometimes stereotyped or excused as “CP Time” – is considered highly unprofessional and disrespectful by African American business professionals themselves.
This isn’t about adopting someone else’s standards; it’s about recognizing and upholding the standards of excellence we expect from each other to succeed. When we are punctual, we:
- Show respect: We value the other person’s time and commitment.
- Build trust: Reliability is key to any successful relationship, business or personal.
- Demonstrate seriousness: We show we are organized, disciplined, and serious about our endeavors.
- Combat negative stereotypes: We actively disprove harmful narratives by embodying professionalism.
- Set the tone: As Participant A noted, arriving on time or early “sets a tone of professionalism and consideration.”
Let’s move beyond the “CP Time” narrative in our professional lives. It doesn’t reflect the drive, ambition, and respect inherent in our community. Let’s hold ourselves and each other to a standard of punctuality that truly reflects our collective commitment to excellence. Let’s communicate clearly if unforeseen delays occur, but strive to make promptness the rule, not the exception.
Our time is valuable. Let’s treat it – and each other’s – that way. Punctuality isn’t just about minutes on a clock; it’s a powerful statement about our respect, our reliability, and our unwavering commitment to professionalism.
Contextual Code Report: Perceptions of Professional Punctuality (Anonymized)
Project: Analysis of Online Commentary on Professional Lateness
Data Source: Online comments (anonymized) reacting to an implied incident of significant (30 min)
Methodology: Qualitative Thematic Analysis
Introduction:
This report outlines the primary thematic codes identified during the analysis of participant commentary. Each code represents a significant recurring concept related to attitudes, values, and expectations surrounding punctuality in a professional context within this specific dataset. The report provides a definition for each code, discusses its contextual significance based on the data, and includes illustrative examples from the participants’ comments, with participant names replaced by aliases (e.g., Participant A, Participant B).
Code Definitions and Context:
1. Code Name: PUNCTUALITY_AS_RESPECT
* Definition: Encompasses statements explicitly linking being on time for professional engagements to demonstrating respect for the other individual(s), their time, and the agreed-upon arrangement. Lateness, especially uncommunicated, is framed as inherently disrespectful.
* Contextual Significance: This emerged as the most dominant theme, establishing the foundational value driving participants’ views. It elevates punctuality from a logistical preference to a core tenet of professional courtesy and interpersonal regard within this group. The perceived disrespect is a major factor in negative judgments.
* Illustrative Examples:
* “I believe punctuality is a mutual sign of respect.” (Participant A)
* “being late—especially without notice—can feel disrespectful…” (Participant A)
* “[Lateness is used] as a pre-excise [sic] to disrespect other people’s time” (Participant B)
* “They don’t value you or your time.” (Participant C)
2. Code Name: COMMUNICATION_EXPECTATION
* Definition: Captures the strong emphasis placed on the need for proactive communication if a delay is unavoidable. The failure to notify the waiting party about lateness is identified as a distinct and often primary offense.
* Contextual Significance: This code highlights that while punctuality is the ideal, transparency and consideration through communication can somewhat mitigate negative perceptions of unavoidable delays. The lack of communication is viewed as a severe breach of professional conduct, amplifying the disrespect.
* Illustrative Examples:
* “Even personally, 30 mins late without any communication is just rude.” (Participant D)
* “At least have common courtesy to communicate with you to let you know they would be late.” (Participant E)
* “The lack of communication is what gets me the most.” (Participant F)
* “…if they call to let me know they are running late I do my best to accommodate.” (Participant G)
3. Code Name: TIME_AS_VALUABLE_RESOURCE
* Definition: Includes references to time as a finite, non-renewable, and valuable commodity. This value may be abstract (irretrievable) or concrete (linked to money, productivity).
* Contextual Significance: This theme provides the underlying rationale for why punctuality is deemed so important and why lateness is disrespectful. By framing time as a valuable resource, wasting it becomes a significant transgression.
* Illustrative Examples:
* “Time is valuable, it’s the only thing that we can’t get back.” (Participant E)
* “Time is one of the few things we can never get back…” (Participant A)
* “my time is money!” (Participant H)
4. Code Name: REJECT_RIGIDITY_CRITICISM
* Definition: Represents participants’ explicit rejection of the idea that expecting punctuality makes one “too rigid.” Such accusations are interpreted as deflection, excuse-making, manipulation, or avoidance of accountability by the unpunctual party.
* Contextual Significance: This code reveals participants’ strong stance in defense of punctuality standards. They refuse to accept this counter-criticism, viewing it as an illegitimate tactic to excuse poor behavior and undermine valid expectations of professionalism.
* Illustrative Examples:
* “…when someone tries to justify it by calling you “rigid” instead of offering a simple apology, that speaks volumes.” (Participant A)
* “Too rigid with your time?! What does that even mean? Sounds like an attempt to manipulate you…” (Participant F)
* “That’s not being rigid at all.” (Participant C)
* “Maybe they should have more rigidity in their schedule!” (Participant I)
5. Code Name: PROFESSIONAL_CONTEXT_NORMS
* Definition: Identifies statements that differentiate expectations for punctuality based on context, specifically emphasizing stricter standards for professional, work, or business settings compared to potentially more flexible social contexts. Includes adherence to perceived local/cultural norms for business (e.g., North American).
* Contextual Significance: This code clarifies the domain where these strong views primarily apply. While acknowledging potential variance in social settings or other cultures, participants prioritize adherence to established professional norms in their immediate operating environment.
* Illustrative Examples:
* “I usually wait 15 minutes for professional meetings…” (Participant G)
* “…more acceptable for a social, informal event… For business or work, no…” (Participant J)
* “…since we are living in North America we have to roll on that time.” (Participant J)
6. Code Name: PUNCTUALITY_AS_PROFESSIONAL_INDICATOR
* Definition: Includes comments where punctuality (or the lack thereof) is viewed as a signal or reflection of a person’s broader professional character, including reliability, consideration, organization, and suitability as a collaborator.
* Contextual Significance: This theme shows that punctuality isn’t seen in isolation. Participants use it as diagnostic information to make broader judgments about an individual’s overall professionalism and trustworthiness in a business context.
* Illustrative Examples:
* Punctuality “sets a tone of professionalism and consideration.” Lateness “can be very telling about whether they’re someone you’d want to collaborate with…” (Participant A)
* Lack of communication is “just plain unprofessional no matter which way you chop it up.” (Participant F)
7. Code Name: PRACTICAL_STRATEGIES_THRESHOLDS
* Definition: Captures specific, actionable strategies, personal rules, or time limits participants mention regarding punctuality or dealing with others’ lateness.
* Contextual Significance: This code provides concrete examples of how the abstract values surrounding punctuality are put into practice, indicating behavioral norms and personal boundaries within the group.
* Illustrative Examples:
* “I usually wait 15 minutes for professional meetings… If no notice it is time to reschedule according to my schedule.” (Participant G)
* “To be late is to be on time. Come at least 10-15 mins early.” (Participant K)
* “If you’re the one who initiated the meeting, I think it’s especially important to arrive early.” (Participant A)
Conclusion:
The codes identified in this report reflect a strong consensus among the participants regarding the high value of punctuality in professional settings. It is deeply linked to respect, perceived value of time, and judgments about professional character. Communication is critical, and justifications for lateness perceived as manipulative (like calling someone “rigid”) are firmly rejected. These codes provide a structured understanding of the attitudes expressed in the analyzed (and anonymized) commentary.