Building Trust Through Radical Candor: Elevate Your Team with Honest and Caring Feedback

Yesterday I spent a valuable hour in a webinar with Kim Scott, diving deeper into the concept of Radical Candor after recently reading her book. It was a fascinating reminder of how simple principles can truly elevate workplace relationships.

At its core, Radical Candor means caring personally for others while challenging them directly. It’s about providing clear, honest feedback that helps people grow – without diminishing morale or compromising relationships.

So, what does Radical Candor look like in practice? Imagine an environment where feedback isn’t sugar-coated, nor is it abrasive. It’s rooted in two fundamental principles:

 1. Care Personally – This is about recognising that each team member is a person first. Showing empathy, understanding personal goals, and genuinely investing in people’s well-being builds a foundation of trust. When people know you care about them as individuals, they’re more open to receiving honest feedback.

 2. Challenge Directly – This is the part where honesty comes in. It’s about having the courage to give direct feedback, even when it’s difficult. Challenging someone directly means being specific and constructive, not harsh or overly critical. It’s saying what needs to be said to help the person improve, but with respect and encouragement.

 A few essentials of Radical Candor to keep in mind:

 • Seek Feedback First: A culture of candor starts with being open to feedback yourself. Ask your team questions like, “What could I be doing better?” and truly listen. This sets the tone for a more open, trust-based environment.

 • Listen Without Defensiveness: The real skill in receiving feedback is to listen to understand, not to defend yourself. Radical Candor encourages us to stay open to others’ perspectives, even when they’re uncomfortable or unexpected. This approach fosters growth and strengthens relationships.

 • Focus on What Matters: As leaders, it’s essential to balance caring for the team with caring for yourself. Taking care of your health, well-being, and time sets a model for your team to follow and enables you to lead effectively.

Why does Radical Candor matter? In any team or organisation, honest, direct feedback is what drives improvement and growth. But without personal care, feedback can feel cold or discouraging. Radical Candor allows us to build high-performing teams where trust, transparency, and mutual respect are standard. It’s an approach that promotes resilience, fosters innovation, and helps people – and organisations – reach their full potential.

If you’ve practiced Radical Candor, I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.