Handling this tension requires special considerations. If it is ignored, power is sapped from the organization by the loss of creative, high-energy staff. Managers give the impression that staff recommendations, opinions, and analyses are wanted and then make a final decision to the contrary. They solicit honest, open feedback from direct reports and then subtly punish them for doing so. An open door policy in the employee handbook encourages any employee to discuss problems with any level of authority in the organization, yet it is politically incorrect to do so in practice.
Managers make critical comments about their boss during department meetings.
Managers from different departments criticize their mutual boss in earshot of direct reports. Employees sidestep the formal chain of command and go above their immediate boss to express a complaint or get something done. Employees show symptoms of emotionally separating themselves from their jobs and from the organization as a whole. Performance suffers and job-hunting begins. Employees finally divorce the organization physically, leaving for perceived greener pastures.