"Veronica...did have official duties, though she somehow arranged they should be as light as possible. Some people manage to establish that their contribution at work is merely to move around being pleasant; it is understood that no more is to be expected of them, and it would be pointless to chastise them for being as they are." The Course of Honor, page 83.

Funny how something you read in an ordinary novel can illuminate in a couple of sentences a situation that has been puzzling you for a long time. It truly is pointless and a waste of time and energy to criticize such a person and/or expect him to be anyone other than who he is.

It is difficult when such a person holds a low level position in a company; it can be disastrous when they are in a place where informed decision and fair, right, and impartial actions are required to be performed by them. They do not have the skills and knowledge required; their values lie in pleasant social interactions and preferred friendships and often they rise high in organizations due to their superb social skills and web of connections.

They should be left alone to do what they do best. The rest of us will take up the tasks at hand, the heavy lifting, including what should have been their portion.

I know someone like this. Do you?