I think people with authority struggle with applying a policy or norm which in general supports a more egalitarian working style vs deviating in the specific cases where they want a particular outcome. And if managers/execs/whomever diverges from those policies or norms even occasionally, it can break the trust which allows people around them to believe that stated polices are real.
Consider:
A manager wants to run open discussions in which all opinions are equally welcome, but in just one session cuts off an team member who seems to be voicing a real concern which might actually affect team morale meaningfully? Later, through glass conference room walls, that team member is seen on the receiving side of what seems to be a stern one-sided conversation. In all future discussions, who should trust that discussions are actually "open"? How long must that manager go without stifling an uncomfortable view before they're again credible in saying that all views are welcome?
A director wants to empower teams by saying they "own" projects, can make decisions autonomously, etc. If that director sweeps in to override a team just once, when they feel a team is making the "wrong" choice on some matter, from that point forward how do those team members trust that they actually can make decisions on their own? Should we feel surprised if they start asking for permission for more things, and inviting the director to more fine-grained meetings?
An engineering department has a stated policy about who must approve various kinds of changes, which is not oriented around hierarchy but about domain expertise. The CTO unexpectedly chimes in on an occasional PR unsolicited, with detailed question about the project of which the PR is one part. What has to be true for a junior IC to feel comfortable merging?
I've never been in the military, but I would have to guess (a) it probably doesn't always work as well as described in the article and (b) when it does work, the parties involved must have both a high degree of trust backed by a consistent record of living up to their stated practices.