2. They talk and talk and talk when you are trying to get work done. “Make speeches,” the government advises agents. “Talk as frequently as possible and at great length. Illustrate your ‘points’ by long anecdotes and accounts of personal experiences. Never hesitate to make a few appropriate ‘patriotic’ comments….Bring up irrelevant issues as frequently as possible.”
3. They love committee meetings. “When possible, refer all matters to committees, for ‘further study and consideration,’” the agent is advised. “Attempt to make the committees as large as possible — never less than five.” Then “hold conferences when there is more critical work to be done.”
4. They nitpick. “Haggle over precise wordings of communications, minutes, resolutions,” says the field manual. “Insist on perfect work in relatively unimportant products” and “send back for refinishing those which have the least flaw.”
5. They keep trying to re-open settled decisions. Does your co-worker frequently “refer back to matters decided upon at the last meeting and attempt to re-open the question of the advisability of that decision?” Spy.
6. They delay everything with endless worries. “Advocate ‘caution,’” the manual advises the operative who is trying to undermine an organization. “Be ‘reasonable’ and urge your fellow-conferees to be ‘reasonable’ and avoid haste which might result in embarrassments or difficulties later on.” They worry about “whether such action as is contemplated lies within the jurisdiction of the group or whether it might conflict with the policy of some higher echelon.” They “apply all regulations to the last letter.” Do you have someone in your office who acts like this? They may be a spy.
7. They grind you down with endless, pointless bureaucracy and form-filling. They “multiply paperwork in plausible ways,” according to the manual. They “multiply the procedures and clearances involved in issuing instructions, pay checks, and so on” and “see that three people have to approve everything where one would do.”
8. They “spread disturbing rumors that sound like inside dope.”
9. Mismanage. Government agents in management have a powerful arsenal at their disposal. “To lower morale and with it, production,” the intelligence agency advises them, “be pleasant to inefficient workers; give them undeserved promotions. Discriminate against efficient workers; complain unjustly about their work.” Does your boss favor the office idiot? Do you have incompetent co-workers who are constantly getting perks or promotions they don’t deserve? Is your hard work constantly overlooked? Your boss is a saboteur secretly working for the intelligence service.
10. And if all else fails, the saboteur can simply be incompetent. “Work slowly,” the manual advises the saboteur. “Pretend that instructions are hard to understand, and ask to have them repeated more than once… Do your work poorly and blame it on bad tools, machinery, or equipment,” and “snarl up administration in every possible way.”