How to Manage a Boss Who Hates Bad News episode artwork

EPISODE · May 28, 2026 · 9 MIN

How to Manage a Boss Who Hates Bad News

from The Difficult Boss Podcast with Fexingo: Managing Up, Toxic Managers, and Workplace Survival · host Fexingo

Episode 16 tackles the 'shoot the messenger' boss — the manager who reacts so badly to bad news that employees stop sharing it. Lucas and Luna examine NASA's Challenger disaster as a case study in what happens when upward communication gets dangerous, then walk through three specific tactics for delivering bad news to a reactive boss. They cover the 'pre-mortem' technique, how to frame yourself as a problem-solver rather than a problem-bringer, and the one question you can ask in a one-on-one that forces the boss to hear the bad news. No theory. Just a real historical failure and practical scripts you can use Monday morning. #ManagingUp #DifficultBosses #WorkplaceCommunication #BadNews #NASA #ChallengerDisaster #RogerBoisjoly #ShootTheMessenger #Careers #Leadership #ToxicWorkplace #PsychologicalSafety #PreMortem #Feedback #CorporateSurvival #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #WorkplaceDynamics Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode 16 tackles the 'shoot the messenger' boss — the manager who reacts so badly to bad news that employees stop sharing it. Lucas and Luna examine NASA's Challenger disaster as a case study in what happens when upward communication gets dangerous, then walk through three specific tactics for delivering bad news to a reactive boss. They cover the 'pre-mortem' technique, how to frame yourself as a problem-solver rather than a problem-bringer, and the one question you can ask in a one-on-one that forces the boss to hear the bad news. No theory. Just a real historical failure and practical scripts you can use Monday morning. #ManagingUp #DifficultBosses #WorkplaceCommunication #BadNews #NASA #ChallengerDisaster #RogerBoisjoly #ShootTheMessenger #Careers #Leadership #ToxicWorkplace #PsychologicalSafety #PreMortem #Feedback #CorporateSurvival #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #WorkplaceDynamics Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

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How to Manage a Boss Who Hates Bad News

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How long is this episode of The Difficult Boss Podcast with Fexingo: Managing Up, Toxic Managers, and Workplace Survival?

This episode is 9 minutes long.

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This episode was published on May 28, 2026.

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Episode 16 tackles the 'shoot the messenger' boss — the manager who reacts so badly to bad news that employees stop sharing it. Lucas and Luna examine NASA's Challenger disaster as a case study in what happens when upward communication gets...

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