The larger an organization gets, the less likely it is that bad news will travel smoothly up the chain.
The mantra at big corporations is "go along to get along." Stopping work on products vital to the bottom line is often incompatible with pleasing the boss. Engaging in straight talk with those who lead Corporate America is a rare occurrence.
C-level executives tend to be isolated from their corporate stakeholders because most of the information they receive is filtered by subordinates, suppliers, and consultants. "CEO Disease" is a term used to describe the isolation that envelops a leader when subordinates become reluctant to disclose bad news or worst-case scenarios that might trigger a shoot-the-messenger response.
However, that is beginning to change as c-level executives seek a cure for "CEO Disease" by participating in interactive conversations through their personal blogs.
Blogs are personal. They humanize the Web and keep CEOs in touch with what’s going on out in the world.
People feel they can really have a conversation with someone who has a blog.
Source: Ask the Coach