It would be wonderful if the world could accept blunt feedback. It is certainly easier to give and more in-line with what most technical people would prefer. However, we work with humans, and we have learned an awful lot about how humans respond to language, especially criticism. The advice here applies to giving feedback to any human, not just superiors. As you spend time working with humans, you learn, perhaps slowly that what you might consider "fluff" is really about helping make your point. Being direct doesn't always, or even usually, work as well.
Definitively agree. Being blunt, too direct is just the opposite of a good and effective communication.
Being too blunt raises defenses and completely wipes out the effectiveness of your feedback. Folks that are invested in outcomes make choices for good reason, and they've probably got a track record to back it up. You have to meet them where they are, and considering their communication styles and how they make decisions will improve the chances you're actually heard.
It's a fact of life that people shut down when approached with evidence that refutes their world view or choices. It doesn't matter if it's your boss or grandparents.
> It's a fact of life that people shut down when approached with evidence that refutes their world view or choices.
I don't really agree with you. This is a basic quality of skilled leadership. You want people refuting your worldview with evidence! It lets you correct course and make things better.
Only insecure people shut down like this in my experience.
It's also learned behaviour. Generally speaking, American corporate culture does cherish its pussyfooting around difficult subjects, as do most Asian cultures (I gather, no personal experience there). European and South-American cultures are somewhere on the opposite end of that spectrum IME.