The Nature of Temporal Intelligence in Leadership

Temporal Intelligence was first introduced by Clemens and Darlyrmple (2005) to describe the importance of time in leadership, notably its role in decision making and influencing followers. More recently, Doyle and Francis-Smythe (2009) developed an 8 factor 79 item psychometric measure of Temporal Intelligence (TiQ) defining it as ‘a leader’s cognitions and behaviours related towards time with reference to the self and the individuals being led’. Central to this definition is the distinction between cognitions directed towards the self and those directed towards followers. The individual difference factor of Time Personality, refers to self-directed thoughts, behaviours and attitudes towards time (Francis-Smythe & Robertson, 1999) whereas the TiQ measures those directed towards followers.

This paper reflects on the nature of each of the eight factors measured by the TiQ and their relationship to the existing time and leadership literature providing a basis for a fruitful discussion of the nature of temporal variables occurring at a leadership level. Particular focus is given to the factor explaining the most variance, ‘Time Personality and Job Role Characteristics’, referring to leaders’ awareness of followers’ time personality and job characteristics.

This process of awareness is proposed as a pre-requisite to a leader’s behavioural repertoire in relation to entraining the temporal characteristics of an individual and the temporal demands of the job to produce a congruent fit (Bluedorn & Janussi, 2008). A number of mechanisms by which such entrainment takes place are suggested.

The paper also presents the remaining 7 factors of TI (Pace, Temporal Depth, Deadline Orientated Behaviour, Flexing Speed and Quality, Breaks in Workflow, Autocratic Leadership and Autonomy) describing the perceived relationships that they are proposed to have with performance and well-being based upon previous research findings of conceptually similar temporal constructs.

Bluedorn, A.C. & Janussi, K.S. (2008). Leaders, followers and time. Leadership Quarterly, 19, 654–68

Clemens and Darlyrmple (2005). Time Mastery. Amacom books, New York.

Doyle, A. & Francis-Smythe, J. A. (2009). Temporal Intelligence and Time Management. 14th Congress of the European Association of Work and Organisational Psychology, Spain.

Francis-Smythe, J. A., & Robertson, I. T. (1999). Time-Related Individual Differences. Time & Society, 8(2), 273-292.