It was once explained to me that in some countries it’s imperative for drivers to be in front or push to the front on the highway, at junctions and every turning at every opportunity…no matter what!

Some of us will have seen this or experienced it first hand.  For example, at traffic lights, if there are three lanes then drivers and motorcyclists alike will try to maneuver their way to the front to gain some advantage when the traffic resumes its flow.  The theoretical three lanes may well be occupied by four or even five cars and half a dozen bikes.  When the lights change those in pole position make a quick start but for the rest?  The rest are wedged in and it’s a sluggish start as the congestion is relieved.  This relief is accompanied by a cacophony of horn blowing and tooting along with angry shouting and disgruntled drivers and riders alike…until they move.

But it’s not just about cars, it’s crossing the road, queues, aircraft boarding and disembarking, catching trains, ignoring an agenda, or promoting fear and power.  Front bumperism is everywhere, if we look, and the syndrome is also alive and well on projects.

Front Bumperism

A ‘bumper’ is part of a car in the form of a protruding shroud that absorbs the energy from impact and minimises damage to the car body.  Of course, once in front the vehicle behind is effectively blocked by the bumper.  Rather than risk damaging another car, or their own, one driver or another will back down but for many there will be the scars of close encounters in the form of dents and scratches from brought on by the desire to be first.

The propensity for front bumperism is directly proportional to the number of dented, scratched and otherwise slightly damaged vehicles on the road and the frequency of horn blowing.

On projects we can see a similar trend.  If the number of arguments and disagreements on a project do not contribute to progress, they will be directly proportional to the amount of drama and noise created.  People too can become metaphorically scarred by the clashes that occur, and constructive discussion with healthy debate can easily secede to destructive argument and eventually submissive acceptance.

First Foot

Unfortunately, there are many individuals who must get there (wherever “there” is) first and across the line (whatever that “line” may be), no matter how slow the process or that they contribute to the slowness.  It’s all about being first!  It may be seen as a perverse way of living and behaving but it is human trait. 

Look at queues, or lines, in which a line of people await their turn to be attended to.  Many societies expect that the line will be orderly, and people will not ‘jump the queue’.  However, front bumperists will always wish to be dealt with first.  There is no thought for those whose toes they step on or who gets in the way as they push and shove their way to the front and get their foot in the door first.  For the courteous who allow them access altruistic tendencies the bumperist sees them as weak and capitalise on the opportunity while others may just buy, or sometimes bribe their way to the front

‘Queue jumping’ also occurs on projects.  Personal agendas can take pride of place over that of a project team.  In meetings with a pre-set agenda a bumperist will ignore the order of topics and butt in to have their say and grandstand.  If something goes awry then they too will be first to form an opinion, no matter what the facts and, with all guns blazing, establish their view first, even if it’s just a story.

First Story

Most of us will have seen the sad, but all too often true flowchart regarding ‘problem ownership’ and how to deflect attention away from being culpable.

Although seen as a joke it’s amazing how often people, in self-preservation mode either seek to blame somebody else or avoid any involvement. 

An important part of self preservation is knowing that, being culpable, getting in with your version of the truth is essential.  Not only does this start rumours as to what has gone wrong or right but casts innuendo on others who may be not only blameless but not even involved. As Mark Twain once wrote, “a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.”

For the front bumperist the opportunity to immediately push their story to the front is too good to miss.  Even if they are not involved, the idea of being able to control a situation through stealth and throw in red herrings as well as half truths can be overwhelming.

Just as the expression “shoot first, ask questions later” implies that everybody is a hostile the bumperists modus operandi is to “argue first, disprove facts later”.  Based on another Mark Twainism, “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story” by getting in with their version of the truth first this establishes their position as they argue and bluster their way forward.

Conclusion

For those with Front Bumper Syndrome it’s not only about being first at a set of traffic lights or first in the queue but also contesting every situation in which there is an opportunity to be in front of somebody else, no matter how much inefficiency and ineffectiveness results.  Every inch must be fought for, every gap contested, and every queue jumped so that the supremacy of being first among similar protagonists is realised, albeit without any readily apparent reward.

Bumperism is about selfishness rather than altruism and could avoided with a modicum of common courtesy, a pinch of discipline, a dash of decency and some straightforward honesty.  Unfortunately, in lands of the front bumper such graces are oftentimes sadly lacking which results in more haste and less speed as well as anxiety and mistrust. 

On projects, or other endeavours, some parties will get in with their version of the truth first and establish their position, reinforce their opinion and control situations rather than dealing with facts.  This ‘truth’ is then entrenched as the ‘first version’ to cross the line which must be disproven rather than not believed.  And while it’s being argued the front bumperist will be in first position, at least until when the ‘real truth’ is established, if ever.  However, in the many, many lands of front bumperism the ‘real truth’ may well be based on fanciful fiction and blind belief rather than hard evidence and established facts.