How are managers allowed to avoid conversations by saying "it might be awkward?"

Managers need to sack up.

No shit. Most of life is awkward. We're all flawed human beings who periodically do weird stuff to each other's rear ends, you know?

From here, though:

It takes humility to have these conversations. You must be willing to be vulnerable. You need to have trust to really engage in productive dialogue. You must also get permission from the other person. You …