“My CEO can't hear bad news”

What could be going on

Defensive routines (Argyris): Fits if the organisation quietly rewards good news and buries problems.

Narcissistic injury: Bad news may feel like a personal wound; check whether they take it as an attack on them.

Overreacts to mild criticism: Overreacting to mild problems fits if small concerns trigger big defensive responses.

Hubris syndrome: Fits if this grew over years in power, with contempt for advice and overconfidence.

Psychological safety: Check what happened to people who raised bad news before; silence follows punishment.

Groupthink: Fits if the top team is close-knit and treats dissent as disloyalty.

Also said as

• my boss shoots the messenger
• leadership doesn't want to hear about problems
• whenever I raise a risk he gets angry
• why won't my manager listen when something is going wrong
• leader refuses to hear criticism
• my CEO only wants good news