A manager with over 10 years of experience shared her unsettling discovery of a secret group chat created by her team while using a former employee's laptop. Initially seeking a missing file, she stumbled upon candid discussions about her leadership that left her shaken. Despite her team's polite demeanor in person, the messages revealed a stark contrast, prompting feelings of doubt and cognitive dissonance. In her Reddit post, she expressed her disappointment at not being able to hear such sentiments directly from her team. However, many users reassured her that such chats are common, often serving as a space for venting frustrations. They advised her not to take the comments personally and to consider any constructive feedback for her growth. The manager responded positively, indicating her willingness to improve based on the feedback, reaffirming her commitment to her leadership role.