Space/Time Orientation
Each of us has a space and time orientation that helps to arrange us to the wider world.
In essence, this orientation influences our thoughts and attitudes about what has happened around us, what is happening around us, and what we anticipate will happen around us.
Depending on which type you are, this space/time orientation looks very different. We have some difficulty wrapping our heads around another’s perspective in this regard, but when we do understand it, we consequently understand each other a little better, and are able to make great allowances for each other, as well as leverage each other’s strengths where we may possess weaknesses.
Understanding the differences in space/time orientations also helps us further delineate between types. As discussed in my post “Identifying Operating Systems”, We come in four different flavors, as determined by our use of language (Concrete vs Abstract) and the ways in which we interact with our environment (Cooperative vs Utilitarian)
Depending on which type you are, you are also going to have a different space/time orientation from those of another type. These differences are subtle, but provide us a lot of insight.
For example;
The Concrete Cooperator Type (#1)
The Concrete Cooperator type has a space orientation of “the gateway” and a time orientation which faces towards “yesterday”, or “the past”.
Now, what the heck does that even mean?
A space orientation of "the gateway” simply means that this type naturally assumes the role of “gatekeeper”. That is, they tend to be self-appointed watchmen of all of the comings and goings of everyone under their stewardship, or who might be influencing those who they consider to be under their stewardship. (in fact, I am likely to name this type “The Stewards”)
They see their place in the universe as literally standing guard at the gates of all of the entry and exit points in their lives, and in the lives of their loved ones. Their place is one of vigilance and of assessment.
As for time orientation, this type tends to look to the past. This is the type most likely to talk about “the good old days” and will often bring up past events in an effort to relive them, or re-share them with others. They are traditionalists for this reason, and feel a strong connection to the past. Not as a marker of identity, but more of a reverence for a certain reliability that the past tends to offer. It’s largely fixed and immovable, not subject to change or to revision. The past remains steady, provides us lessons and comforts.
This type is also the most likely to develop habits and routines by nature. While the other types may have to make a more conscious effort to include daily routines, the Concrete Cooperator is nothing if not a creature of habit. After all, their habits are reliable. They produce the same effect over and over again, and they can generally always count on them to do so.
Along with this time orientation comes a strong reluctance to embrace new things. New technologies, new traditions, and new operations confuse and frustrate them, because they are not pointed towards the future and looking for possibilities, but are instead pointed to the past and looking for a track record.
I hope you can see how understanding this space and time orientation of this type, might influence their attitudes and behaviors in a work place, for example, or at home and in a family. No doubt you have many of these types in your lives, and the goal here is to better understand them (and frankly, cut them a little slack)
I will be sharing the space/time orientations of the other types in the next couple of posts.