CEO: "Don't be filtered. I want people to tell me what they really think."

Employee: "X isn't working well. We need to find a better way."

Middle manager to Employee: "Let's grab a 1:1. I didn't like how you said that. It sounded negative. Next time, bring solutions and be more careful with how you frame it."

Message received. Next time, the employee says less, softens the edges, waits longer (or stays quiet altogether).

Months later, leadership wonders why problems blindside them. Why issues surface so late. Why no one raised concerns earlier.

Someone did.

If you want unfiltered truth, watch what happens to the people who offer it.