Interrupting the flow : time-use preference and leader-member exchange

Abstract

Time-use preference, as described by the monochronicity-polychronicity spectrum, is a pervasive yet often unaddressed construct which influences the way individuals behave in the workplace. This behavior plays a role in the leader-member exchange, affecting the quality in the dyadic relationship between leader and member. Employing a qualitative exploration with semi-structured interviews of 20 employees within an organization, we explicate the nature of time-use preference in LMX differentiation, discover how time-use preferences manifest and how leaders and members adapt to one another’s preferences. Our study contributes to time-use preference theory by illustrating how polychronic and monochronic preferences may manifest in the workplace. Further, we contribute to LMX theory by illustrating the influence of polychronicity on dyadic relationships, and discuss how leaders and members adapt to each other’s preferences. We provide practical considerations to help mitigate the negative impacts this seldom addressed issue can have.