The Field Manual listed the following specific tactics for sabotaging organizations and conferences:
➡️ "Insist on doing everything through 'channels.' Never permit shortcuts to be taken in order to expedite decisions."
➡️ "Make 'speeches.' Talk as frequently as possible and at great length. Illustrate your 'points' by long anecdotes and accounts of personal experiences."
➡️ "When possible, refer all matters to committees for 'further study and consideration.' Attempt to make the committees as large as possible - never less than 5."
➡️ "Bring up irrelevant issues as frequently as possible."
➡️ "Haggle over precise wordings of communications, minutes, resolutions."
➡️ "Refer back to matters decided upon at the last meeting and attempt to re-open the question of the advisability of that decision."
➡️ "Advocate 'caution.' Be 'reasonable, and urge your fellow conferees to be 'reasonable' and avoid haste which might result in embarrassments or difficulties later on."
➡️ "Be worried about the propriety of any decision - raise the question of 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."
"But that was 1944!" you might say. Where can I find more modern guidance on slowing productivity?
Enter ChatGPT.
Setup: Feed ChatGPT the content of the Simple Sabotage Field Manual and prompt it to assist you in finding ways to slow productivity using the Manual as a guide and inspiration (using specific language to fit your own desired parameters).
Example ask: Draft a sabotage-style meeting agenda to maximize inefficieny
Here's what we got:
🗂 Agenda for Today’s Meeting
Objective: To thoroughly discuss all matters until no decision can be responsibly made.
Opening Remarks (15 minutes)
Share an anecdote only vaguely related to the topic. Bonus if it involves your neighbor’s cat or a past vacation.
Review of Previous Minutes (20 minutes)
Read the entire previous meeting transcript aloud. Slowly. With dramatic pauses.
Insist on correcting minor wording changes like “considered” vs. “discussed.”
Agenda Item One (30 minutes minimum)
Debate the exact phrasing of the problem before even considering solutions.
Suggest forming a subcommittee to explore this issue further.
Agenda Item Two (as time permits)
Begin discussion with, “Before we dive in, I think we should revisit Agenda Item One.”
New Business (unlimited)
Introduce unexpected topics, such as:
Office coffee filter specifications
Whether staplers should be communal or assigned
The philosophical meaning of “ASAP”
Closing (10 minutes)
Agree to meet again soon to finalize today’s unfinished discussions.
Schedule the next meeting at a time inconvenient for most.
ChatGPT, our self-styled "loyal ally in the noble art of workplace wheel-spinning," then helpfully suggested "If the intent is actually to boost productivity, you’ll want the opposite: start with the decision needed, keep notes concise, stay on track, and end with clear action items."
What do you think?
Did the Office of Strategic Services get it right? What productivity road bumps would you add?
How did ChatGPT do? Have you used AI in a similar way? What issues have you encountered that killed productivity in meetings?
Any of these hit a little too close to home? Are you stuck in unproductive meetings; frustrated by the paralysis of analysis; feel like you're running on a hamster wheel of inaction?
Sabotage tactics are alive and well - not because of spies, but because of ingrained habits and workplace cultures that prioritize procedure over progress. Complex organizations (like federal courts) are especially vulnerable to inefficiency. Small inefficiencies compound into systemic slowdowns. Applying lessons from sabotage helps build resilience and boost productivity
At 3B Solutions, we help federal court units and organizations move away from hidden self-sabotage and toward meaningful progress. Whether you need process improvements, program reviews, or project-based support, our team can help identify bottlenecks and get you on track.
👉 Contact us today for a free initial consultation and let’s turn history’s sabotage lessons into your productivity advantage.
(For the full Simple Sabotage Field Manual: https://www.cia.gov/static/5c875f3ec660e092cf893f60b4a288df/SimpleSabotage.pdf)
If this topic resonates with you, 3B offers tailored training sessions based on this material, focusing on moving away from self-sabotage to organizational empowerment with optional inclusion of tips for incorporating AI into your workplace toolbox.