Do you agree or disagree that the most important role of a boss is to encourage employees?

I'd say encouragement is crucial, but not the only role a boss should play. The main reason is that employees also need clear direction and practical support to actually perform well. For example, in my UI design team in Shanghai, our manager not only motivates us but also gives very specific feedback on our work - like pointing out exactly which color schemes work better for user experience. That combination of encouragement and concrete guidance helps us improve much faster than just hearing "good job" all the time. That said, without any encouragement at all, even skilled employees can lose motivation over time, especially in creative fields like design where confidence really matters.