Avoiding Persian Messenger Syndrome

There is an old English saying that 'bad news travels fast'. In many instances that's true, except in companies and ancient Persia.

Ancient Persia

It was normal in ancient Persia and other states, to execute any messenger that brought you bad news, your own messenger... think about that and remember the modern saying DON'T shoot the messenger.

Companies

The world has changed just a touch since then and now this behaviour occurs in collectives of people doing work together towards a shared goal, we call them organisations or companies. Business books are full to the brim of stories of grouchy leaders and executives who only want good news and reacting poorly to bad news. To carry on our historical theme I'd judge the behaviour akin to King Henry II of England when the state and church were at odds and he was overheard saying "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?" of course a couple of knights heard this and rode to the city of Canterbury and promptly executed Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury. - Note, the king did not want this behaviour and was devastated personally and faced huge public backlash leading him to walk into the city of Canterbury barefoot, get whipped by monks and spend the night in his former friend's tomb, do you see the theme? To put it another way: Every word is an order, this includes the words a leader does not say too, but that are communicated by their action/or lack of it.

"Tell Us the Bad News Immediately" - Charlie Munger