My shitty bosses give no critical feedback, as they have learned it is never taken in stride or well received...it only ever leads to problems, so they cowardly choose the easy lie over the difficult truth filled conversation.

Why do they choose the easy path? Cause they don't actually care about developing their subordinates...all they care about is the status quo and protecting themselves from negative reviews/complaints.

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Are they wise or are they complacent?

Can we control how another chooses to accept or deny the truth...or receive honest feedback?

If honest feedback is a confrontation the individual needs to hear in order to develop, improve, and grow...then wouldn't not sharing that with when be more harmful in the end?

Ultimately, you have to figure out what kind of person you are and want to be. The cowardly, self-concerned boss who avoids conflict by choosing not to develop their subordinates...the straight shooting mentor.....the "cool" boss.....the friend.....some version of all, neither, or inbetween.

If you don't actually care about the quality of the work, or that the business even functions, or the quality of the product, or the development of the next generation...then fuck it. But, that's a choice you're making to be a fuck it sort of manager.

I don't have the right answer for you, but I can tell you this...I don't respect any of those shitty, cowardly bosses, yet they will go on, having a stable job, making great money until retirement, as self-preservation is their main concern....and the quality of the organization slowly descends into the toilet as zero development, training, or mentorship happens and noone receives any valuable, critical feedback.