A MODERN FIELD MANUAL FOR DETECTING & ROOTING OUT EVERYDAY BEHAVIORS THAT UNDERMINE YOUR WORKPLACE.
In 1944, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)—the predecessor of today’s CIA—issued the Simple Sabotage Field Manual, detailing sabotage techniques designed to demoralize the enemy. One section focused on eight incredibly subtle—and devastatingly destructive—tactics for sabotaging the decision-making processes of organizations. While the manual was written decades ago, these sabotage tactics lurk undetected in organizations today. Do any of these sound familiar?
- Insist on doing everything through channels.
- Make speeches. Talk as frequently as possible and at great length.
- Refer all matters to committees.
- Bring up irrelevant issues as frequently as possible.
- Haggle over precise wordings of communications.
- Refer back to matters already decided upon and attempt to question the advisability of that decision.
- Advocate caution and urge fellow-conferees to avoid haste that might result in embarrassments or difficulties later on.
- Be worried about the propriety of any decision.
Detect and reduce the impact of these eight classic sabotage tactics to improve productivity, spur creativity, and foster better colleague relationships. Learn how to stop Simple Sabotage in your workplace today.
