Listening for the Truth

Bob Sutton, Stanford University

Not only can some bosses be difficult to talk to, but there are a number of institutional structures in place that make it difficult for them to hear the truth. Stanford Professor Bob Sutton bullet points many documented human behaviors that make it difficult for managers to hear the whole story. For example, research shows that people like flattery – even if its false – and people tend not to like those who deliver bad news.