The Bureacrat always carries files full of detail to discussions with the Superior (or in its more modern version, the Technoprat, carries around PDAs, laptops, the latest in mobile-phone technology) and resorts to hiding in them whenever addressed. “Let me see, we did 17 of those on Tuesday, 43 on Wednesday, 2032 month-to-date, so it’s going pretty well” is a characteristic response.
When called to action, the response is to make a note on a ToDo list (usually a special pad specially ruled for the purpose) and reply “OK, we’ll do a preliminary study this week and get back to you with a more detailed response.” Make sure you recognise actions which will be coming your way later if this happens in your presence, so that you can either do them, or have made a plan to avoid or amend them, before they actually arrive (in memo or email form) in a couple of days time.
