Why does climbing higher on the corporate ladder often result in feedback becoming even more scarce?
“Daaaaaaad! Why does that old grey bird keep following me everywhere I go?” whined the little lion cub. As he pleaded, he also persistently tugged on his father’s ears to rouse him from his afternoon nap.
“Prince Kyan!” said the father in a low disapproving growl. “That dreaded bird you keep complaining about has a name. I have already told you countless times to address him as Mugi. He is one of my most trusted and loyal advisors. He is tasked with keeping an eye on you. And he will be giving you advice that will prepare you one day to be king. It’s best if you listen to him.” His father’s final words of warning rumbled before slowly subsiding back into a peaceful, rhythmic snore.
Even though the little lion cub heard his father response, he never took this piece of advice to heart. Every time the wise grey bird gracefully perched beside the prince and tried to whisper a fragment of feedback into his ear, he was always startled and interrupted. For the little cub always flashed his tiny fangs and snarled in utter defiance.
As Prince Kyan quickly grew to become a mischievous teenager, he often made it a sport trying to pounce and pin the old grey bird intimidatingly to the ground; especially after receiving feedback or criticism that he didn’t particularly like hearing.
Until one day, Kyan finally became king. As he lazily sprawled out under the cooling shade of a towering acacia tree, he felt the familiar stare of his father’s advisor. But what annoyed and puzzled him the most about Mugi, was that the wise old bird stopped giving him advice.
Even though Kyan always pondered why this was the case, only Mugi knew the answer. Now that the cub was a king, he didn’t just roar or tackle the bird for giving unpleasant criticism. He now had the power and strength to kill him as well. The cost of sharing feedback had grown too high to risk sharing any longer.
In the same way, people are always more hesitant to share their feedback or advice to their managers. For the higher their leaders perch on the corporate food chain, the more painful and costly the consequences may be for those who risk sharing feedback.
