If a car in dense traffic slows down, it causes the car behind it to slow down even more. This leads to a ripple effect that spreads backward through a lane of traffic.
This is called a phantom jam. No accident or roadworks caused it, but its impact can be felt for up to an hour.
The physics of a traffic jam are easy to understand. We’ve all likely been in one, and can imagine how one car can impact others down the line.
However, the phantom jams in our places of work are harder to see; but they do exist.
Sales may overpromise. Technology may fail. Operations may miss a key process.
An imperceptible delay or mistake by one team can prevent another from playing their part.
Although we can’t prevent jams from happening, we can leave home a little earlier, or start that project a little sooner, in an attempt to avoid the jam altogether.