Managers who protect their teams from feedback are not being kind.

Shielding employees from critical information, honest assessments, or difficult truths feels supportive in the short term. In practice, it stunts development and leaves people unprepared for the reality of their performance. Employees who receive consistent, honest feedback — even when it is hard to hear — grow faster, build more confidence, and trust their leaders more deeply over time. Protection without information is not kindness. It is avoidance.