A friend works at a company with a split personality. Everyone below the director level is open, direct and willing to talk about the real issues facing the business. At and above the director level, it's just the opposite; no one wants to deal with reality. Response to superiors is couched in the sweet tones of agreement. Response to subordinates is usually derision and rejection.
This impenetrable barrier between rational and irrational is on the verge of bringing down the once successful company. It's easy to see the underlying reason for the difference. There's more at stake at the top, so the penalty for stepping out of conformity and failing is very high. Conversely, when you are part of group-think, failing is practically anonymous.