No. Hitz has it right. A manager’s self-criticism is comforting, rather than anxiety producing, because it signals that she is making a reality-based decision. The manager is saying, in essence, “We’re making an informed bet that this decision will work, but we’ll be monitoring it closely.” (We’ve reality-tested, and we have set tripwires.) On the other hand, if the manager, confronted with criticism, becomes a press secretary for the decision and immediately retreats to her talking points, it’s unsettling, because it makes her team worry that even if the decision is a fiasco, she won’t change
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