Is Being Late Rude? Cultures Disagree on What Time Is and How to Use It

About this episode

This episode explores how different cultures perceive time and communication styles, and what happens when they collide.

Do you ever feel like people are too blunt – or not direct enough? Do you live by the clock, or are you free with your schedule? Do you like to cut to the chase and get to work, or do you need to warm up first? These are not just individual preferences – they are cultural norms. In this episode, I explore why we are the way we are, and what happens when different cultures collide. Read the article. The Culture Map *** I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel, a communication and mindset coach...

People in this episode

Host: Sarah Mikutel

Topics covered

• cultural norms
• time perception
• communication styles
• cultural collision
• individual preferences

Keywords

• cultural norms
• time
• communication
• bluntness
• scheduling
• preferences
• collisions

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Culture Map

More episodes of Citizens of the World: A Stoic Podcast for Curious Travelers

• Jantelagen: What a Swedish Flatmate Taught Me about Fitting In versus Standing Out · March 15, 2026 · 11 min
• The Wrong Way to Listen · March 7, 2026 · 8 min
• Happy People Fall in Love with Strangers More · February 22, 2026 · 12 min
• Don't Quit. Try This. · February 7, 2026 · 10 min
• Mind Reading Isn't a Sign of Love · December 13, 2025 · 5 min
• I Cried During a Knitting Lesson · December 7, 2025 · 7 min