E-NEWSLETTER | SEPTEMBER 2009
Feature Article:

Don’t Throw People Under the Bus

-- By Greg Baker, President and CEO, Advance Consulting

It’s been a few years now since I first heard people in companies saying things like, “He threw me under the bus!”, “She wanted to throw him under the bus.” and “He really threw him under the bus!”  When I first heard this expression I was amused as my mind turned it into a cartoon where one character was literally throwing another under a moving bus . . . Thump Thump.

After a few years of hearing the expression and watching its use penetrate media and corporate circles I’m not so amused anymore (although the cartoon still gets me).  I started thinking, “Where did the phrase come from?”  And before there was a phrase, there was something going on that apparently needed a phrase so we could talk about it.  What was that?  So I did a little research.  I couldn’t find anyone who knew the origin of the phrase, but I found a definition of it online in The Word Detective:

Definition: “To throw someone under the bus” is defined as meaning “to sacrifice; to treat as a scapegoat; to betray,” but . . . the key to the phrase really lies in the element of utter betrayal, the sudden, brutal sacrifice of a stalwart and loyal teammate for a temporary and often minor advantage.”

I couldn’t have defined it better.  This is ugly stuff!  Utter betrayal.  The sudden, brutal sacrifice of a stalwart and loyal teammate for a temporary and often minor advantage.  Wow!

A Pervasive Problem: Let’s not pretend that we haven’t all done this ourselves.  When I was a kid my brother and I used to throw each other under the bus until we realized it just wasn’t worth it.  One time my brother got me in trouble by telling my mom I forgot to take out the trash.  As the pitch of my mother’s voice started to rise I quickly deflected with, “Did you hear about the explosion he had when he was playing with the chemistry set?”  Thump Thump.

We laugh about that stuff now, but there is also a deeper pain that remains.  It’s not just between my brother and me, or our family.  It is something we do in our society.  It is pervasive.  That is why I am writing this article.  People in our business world are throwing their teammates under the bus Way Too Much.  It obliterates trust, hurts people, and hurts the business.  Do we really have a team when we are throwing each other under the bus?  How efficient and effective can a team be when everyone is watching their own back?

C:\Users\greg\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\2SLR86SK\MPj04020900000[1].jpgBusiness and the Bus: I recently facilitated a client group meeting where operational problems were being discussed so that the group could work together to resolve them.  One of the challenges was that the team had not been able to move certain kinds of work offshore fast enough to achieve their margin reduction goals.  The person who was supposedly leading the off-shoring effort was taking some heat for the delays.  The boss was in the room and he was concerned about how this was making her look.  He struck back at another person saying, “I can’t force you to staff projects using offshore resources, and you still don’t have those new staffing protocols in place.”  Thump Thump.

The thing is, throwing people under the bus doesn’t help us in the long run.  People who throw teammates under the bus will not be trusted by their teammates and will invariably find themselves under the bus.  Thump Thump.

What You Can Do: If the term, “throw one under the bus” and all of its associated behaviors can spread so virally in our society, then so can its antidote.  From this point on we can each make a commitment to ourselves and our teammates to “keep each other out from under the bus.”  If you are a supervisor, manager, or executive, model this new behavior and don’t tolerate bus throwing among your staff.  For everyone else, you can also be a leader by showing people a different way.  There is always another way to go.  Please see our Skills Corner for tips on how to avoid throwing people under the bus.

If you would like some help changing your organizational culture to avoid, well, you know, (Thump Thump), please contact us at info@advanceconsulting.com or call us at (831) 372-9444.
Skills Corner - How to Avoid Throwing People Under the Bus

Metaphorically speaking, the best the way to avoid throwing someone under the bus is to not put yourself in front of moving buses.  We tend to throw people under the bus when a bus is headed for us.  If someone throws you under the bus, doing the same to them will make you look petty.  Take the high ground.  Here are some tips:

  • Take responsibility for yourself and your job.  Don’t create situations where you may look “bad” in front of your peers or boss because you simply did not do your job when you could have.
  • Don’t get insulted.  Even if someone throws you under the bus, stay calm and remember you do not have to be insulted by what someone says.  It is a choice.  The emotion of insult will always cloud your better judgment, and you will find yourself striking back.  This will hurt your position.  Don’t go there.
  • Be constructive and additive in your responses.  Find something in what the other person said that you can agree with and build upon.  Take responsibility where you feel it is appropriate, and ask others for help when you do not have complete control over a situation.
  • Monitor your “throw” triggers.  Often people throw someone under the bus and then quickly regret it.  Watch the things that trigger your impulse to throw someone under the bus and then practice not responding to the triggers with bus throwing behavior.  Hint: Whenever you are sure you are justified in throwing someone under the bus, don’t do it.
  • Model this new way of being.  As Gandhi said, be the change you want to see in the world.  Show others how it is done.  Be a leader in change.  It starts with each of us.

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What’s New at Advance Consulting?

High Impact Business Presentations

We are pleased to announce the launch of our latest High Impact Business Presentations course.  This course is designed for professionals who need to present ideas and recommendations (either formally or informally) to influence and gain business commitment.  High Impact Business Presentations helps professionals fine tune their ability to connect with their audiences and present ideas for the greatest impact.  Through a combination of interactive classroom activities and presentation practice with personalized coaching and feedback, the workshop equips participants with the skills and knowledge to:

1.    Listen to, understand, find value for, and build trust with client audiences – before and during the presentation.

2.    Deliver the presentation with impact while responding effectively in the moment to challenging situations.

3.    Bring forward the unique style and traits that will personalize presentations.

After completing the High Impact Business Presentations workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Apply a presentation planning process that will identify the key pain points and root causes to reduce potential objections during the presentation.
  • Assess client trust and apply strategies to increase trust and credibility during the presentation.
  • Create powerful value propositions that align with client needs and pain points.
  • Apply best practices for creating effective presentations, including how to select the right methods, materials, visuals, design, and approach.
  • Employ presentation techniques such as storytelling, movement, gestures, humor, etc.
  • Deliver high-impact presentations to a variety of audiences.
  • Handle questions and objections in the moment, and turn them into opportunities to positively influence the audience.
  • Make presentations actionable by clearly identifying key points, next steps, responsibilities, and timing.

Let us help you and your staff hit home runs!  Please contact us at info@advanceconsulting.com or call us at (831) 372-9444 for more information.

 
About Us

Advance Consulting Inc., a premier management consulting and professional development firm, serves corporate and government clients in the U.S. and abroad.  Established in 1990, Advance Consulting specializes in the transformation of people, teams, and organizations as they aspire to create their “Enterprises of the Future” with the ability to adapt and thrive in the turbulent and challenging global business environment.  We work with our clients to build aligned consultative cultures by addressing the organizational, operational, and individual issues that are integral to an organization’s success in achieving desired business results.
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