Radical Candor
5 minutes — Radical Candor by Kim Scott is a book about workplace communication and leadership.
Author Kim Scott, former executive at Google and Apple, defines Radical Candor as "caring personally while challenging directly." She argues this is the best way to build strong relationships with your team members and help them grow and succeed.
Scott contrasts Radical Candor with three other communication styles:
Ruinous Empathy: Caring personally but avoiding challenging directly. This can lead to people underperforming and not reaching their full potential.
Obnoxious Aggression: Challenging directly but not caring personally. This can create a hostile work environment and damage relationships.
Manipulative Insincerity: Neither caring personally nor challenging directly. This is a passive-aggressive style that is often confusing and counterproductive.
Scott provides a number of tips and tools for practicing Radical Candor:
Be specific and actionable. When you give feedback, focus on specific behaviors and provide suggestions on how to improve.
Be timely. Don't wait until a performance review to give feedback. As soon as you notice a problem or a behavior that needs to change, address it directly.
Be respectful. Even when you are challenging someone, you can still do it in a respectful way. Avoid personal attacks and focus on the work.
Be open to feedback yourself. Radical Candor is a two-way street. Be willing to listen to feedback from your team and be open to changing your own behavior.
Call-out Quotes
"Radical Candor is the superpower you need to get shit done."
"If you're not giving radical candor, you're doing your team a disservice."
"It's not about being a jerk. It's about being kind and clear."
"The best way to build trust is to be trustworthy."
Relevant Business Research
A study by Gallup found that only 27% of employees strongly agree that their manager provides them with meaningful feedback. (Gallup, "State of the Global Workplace Report 2022.")
A study by Glassdoor found that 82% of employees say that they would be more likely to stay with their current employer if they received more regular feedback. (Glassdoor, "2023 Employee Feedback Trends Report.")
A study by Deloitte found that companies with a culture of feedback have higher employee engagement, productivity, and profitability. (Deloitte, "The Feedback Revolution: How Digital Tools Are Changing the Way We Work.")