I used to work for a man who was a stickler for correctness. From handling requests for time off to responding to an official complaint from a member of parliament everything had to be done exactly by the book.
On the one hand this was logical and safe, but his inability to do anything without consulting the prescribed guidelines drove most people in the office to distraction.
He was unwilling or unable to trust his instincts in even the most minor and banal of requests.
Buying washing up liquid for the staff kitchen would demand the same amount of red tape as dealing with an accusation of sexual harassment. Actually, I can’t remember either of the last two scenarios happening but you get the picture.
The central point about his behaviour was that it was fundamentally inhuman. He was not a monster so I don’t use the word ‘inhuman’ in the sense of lacking humanity or acting cruelly. What I mean is that his actions were impersonal and dispassionate to the point that he was no better than a machine. Any feelings he had were hidden behind a cloak of bureaucracy. Continue reading
