Adrienne Barker, MAS — Founder of Professional Global Etiquette — asks her AI friends to debate one of the trickiest etiquette dilemmas: timing.

Should you arrive early for a job interview? Is showing up right on time the best move for a dinner meeting? And when it comes to holiday parties, does “fashionably late” send the wrong signal? Together, Adrienne and her AI debaters explore what’s appropriate across interviews, dinners, family gatherings, and global cultures.

They’ll also weigh in on the to drink or not to drink question at business dinners and holiday events, plus unpack the cultural divide between monochronic (punctual, task-driven) and polychronic (flexible, relationship-first) approaches to time.

🎧 Tune in for a lively, thought-provoking debate that blends timeless etiquette rules with modern realities—and a few global twists.

🔑 Key Takeaways

→ Interviews: 10 minutes early is perfect; never late → Business dinners: arrive on time, follow the host’s lead on drinks → Family & friends: casual flexibility, but don’t abuse it → Holiday parties: 15–30 minutes late is fine, beyond that is risky → Cross-cultural tip: learn to bridge monochronic vs. polychronic time styles

💬 Quotes from Adrienne's AI Friends:

"Being five minutes early isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. It says, ‘I respect your time, and you can count on me.’" "

Time isn’t universal—it’s cultural. Respect means learning the rhythm of the people you’re with."

📌 Next Episode Teaser

Next time, Adrienne and her AI friends tackle Dining Reservations & Dining Etiquette. From cancellations to the bread plate mystery, you won’t want to miss it.

Is standing up to greet someone still a sign of respect—or just old-fashioned? And when you pick someone up in your car, do you need a clean seat or just a shared playlist? In this episode, we dive into whether the classic rules of etiquette are timeless essentials or if bold new behaviors define modern professionalism.

In this debut episode of the Professional Global Etiquette Podcast, Adrienne Barker, MAS, moderates a lively AI-powered debate between “The Traditionalist” and “The Power Mover.” Together, they tackle 11 key situations—from handshakes to Zoom cameras, thank-you notes to leadership respect—and uncover where the old rules still hold power and where new approaches are winning in today’s business world.

This is etiquette reimagined: practical, solution-focused, and global.

✅ Key Takeaways

→ First impressions still matter—but speed is the new courtesy.

→ Standing to greet someone communicates respect, yet context can change the expectation.

→ Punctuality remains respect for time, but flexibility is part of modern professionalism.

→ Thank-you notes haven’t died; they’ve evolved into digital gratitude.

→ Leadership etiquette is less about formality, more about consistent respect in action.

💬 Memorable Quotes

“Etiquette isn’t about forks and napkins—it’s how we signal respect.”

“Speed is the new courtesy.”

“Respect never goes out of style; only the delivery changes.”

🎧 Which side are you on—old rules or new power moves?

Join the conversation on LinkedIn and share your biggest etiquette dilemma.

Your scenario could star in our next AI debate!

Is microshifting the productivity upgrade we have all been waiting for, or is it just a slick rebrand of being on call 24 7?

In this deep dive debate, we unpack “microshifting” as the modern alternative to nine to five work. Instead of one long work block, your day becomes scattered work sprints across a full 24 hour cycle. On paper, it sounds like freedom. In real life, it can feel like a longer leash.

We explore the science argument behind microshifting, including ultradian rhythms and why most humans cannot sustain deep focus for eight straight hours. Then we go straight into the psychological and cultural downside: brain rest deficit, permanent readiness, green dot anxiety, digital surveillance disguised as culture, and the hidden equity problem where the most accommodating people burn out first.

If you are a leader, this episode challenges you to measure impact, not availability. If you are an employee, it gives you the language to protect your boundaries without sounding “difficult.” And if you are doing Slack at dinner, you are going to feel very seen.

6 Key Takeaways

→ Microshifting is breaking the day into smaller work blocks across a 24 hour cycle, not a single nine to five stretch

→ The strongest argument for microshifting is biological: ultradian rhythms mean focus peaks every 90 to 120 minutes, then drops hard

→ The hidden cost is mental, not physical: when work is scattered, the brain never fully disengages, creating a brain rest deficit

→ Microshifting only works if the worker has real agency over the schedule. Without power control, it becomes permanent readiness

→ Bad leadership turns flexibility into monitoring. The “green dot game” trains teams to optimize response time instead of results

→ Without team overlap and clear boundaries, microshifting erodes mentorship, weakens culture, and can create an equity gap where caregivers and women absorb the scheduling burden

Quote Worthy Lines From the Episode

“Microshifting is either the ultimate flexibility hack or cognitive fatigue with better PR.”

“Flexibility has to include the flexibility to be unavailable.”

“If you are doing it to be seen, you are playing a game you cannot win.”