--- title: "Unleashed E41: Kim Scott - Radical Candor" description: Learn the two dimensions of radical candor and how with both we can communicate powerfully, directly, and still maintain engagement and buy in. image: https://blog.unleashresults.com/hubfs/Unleashed/Unleashed%20S5/Radical%20Candor%20Feedback.jpg --- [![](https://blog.unleashresults.com/hubfs/results-white.png) ![](https://blog.unleashresults.com/hubfs/Results_logo_transparent-retinap.png)](https://unleashresults.com/) - Calgary [1-403-234-0999](tel:+14032340999) - Edmonton [1-780-784-1047](tel:+17807841047) - Vancouver [1-236-521-1954](tel:+12365211954) - [About](https://unleashresults.com/about/) - [Team](https://unleashresults.com/about/#team) - [Community Involvement](https://unleashresults.com/community-involvement/) - [Join the Team](https://unleashresults.com/careers/) - [Book Jeff Tetz to Speak](https://unleashresults.com/jefftetz/) - [Results Execution System (RES)](https://unleashresults.com/services/) - [Execution Disciplines Program](https://unleashresults.com/services/execution-disciplines-program/) - [Building Leaders Programs](https://unleashresults.com/services/building-leaders-program/) - [Executive Coaching](https://unleashresults.com/services/executive-coaching/) - [Business Consulting](https://unleashresults.com/services/business-consulting/) - [Success Stories](https://unleashresults.com/success-stories/) - [Events](https://unleashresults.com/events/) - [Leadership and Growth](https://unleashresults.com/events/) - [Business Execution Summit](https://unleashresults.com/bex/) - [Connex Leadership Summit](https://unleashresults.com/connex/) - [Partner with Us](https://unleashresults.com/partnership/) - [Execution Insights](http://www.unleashresults.com/blog/) - [Resources](https://unleashresults.com/resources/) - [Unleashed Podcast](https://unleashresults.com/unleashed-series/) - Guides - [Succession Planning Resources](https://blog.unleashresults.com/tag/succession-planning) - [Performance Management Resources](https://blog.unleashresults.com/tag/performance-management) - [Change Management Resources](https://blog.unleashresults.com/tag/change-management) - [Bookstore](https://unleashresults.com/bookstore/) - [Contact](https://unleashresults.com/contact/) - [About](https://unleashresults.com/about/) - [Team](https://unleashresults.com/about/#team) - [Community Involvement](https://unleashresults.com/community-involvement/) - [Join the Team](https://unleashresults.com/careers/) - [Book Jeff Tetz to Speak](https://unleashresults.com/jefftetz/) - [Results Execution System (RES)](https://unleashresults.com/services/) - [Execution Disciplines Program](https://unleashresults.com/services/execution-disciplines-program/) - [Building Leaders Programs](https://unleashresults.com/services/building-leaders-program/) - [Executive Coaching](https://unleashresults.com/services/executive-coaching/) - [Business Consulting](https://unleashresults.com/services/business-consulting/) - [Success Stories](https://unleashresults.com/success-stories/) - [Events](https://unleashresults.com/events/) - [Leadership and Growth](https://unleashresults.com/events/) - [Business Execution Summit](https://unleashresults.com/bex/) - [Connex Leadership Summit](https://unleashresults.com/connex/) - [Partner with Us](https://unleashresults.com/partnership/) - [Execution Insights](http://www.unleashresults.com/blog/) - [Resources](https://unleashresults.com/resources/) - [Unleashed Podcast](https://unleashresults.com/unleashed-series/) - Guides - [Succession Planning Resources](https://blog.unleashresults.com/tag/succession-planning) - [Performance Management Resources](https://blog.unleashresults.com/tag/performance-management) - [Change Management Resources](https://blog.unleashresults.com/tag/change-management) - [Bookstore](https://unleashresults.com/bookstore/) - [Contact](https://unleashresults.com/contact/) ![featured image](https://blog.unleashresults.com/hubfs/Unleashed/Unleashed%20S5/Radical%20Candor%20Feedback.jpg) - [Business Planning & Strategy](https://blog.unleashresults.com/tag/business-planning-strategy) - [Unleashed](https://blog.unleashresults.com/tag/unleashed) - [Culture](https://blog.unleashresults.com/tag/culture) # Unleashed E41: Kim Scott - Radical Candor - By Tim O'Connor - February, 13 2022 - [Home](https://blog.unleashresults.com/) - [Blog](https://blog.unleashresults.com) - Unleashed E41: Kim Scott - Radical Candor Table of Contents Kim Scott explains what makes some teams thrive while others struggle. In a phrase: radical candor. ## Actions You Can Take Right Now 1. Always start a radical candor conversation by **asking for feedback first**. Have a go-to question like, “what can I do or stop doing to make it easier to work with me?” **Embrace the discomfort.**  2. There is a natural tendency when receiving feedback to start preparing your response. Intentionally **try to listen for understanding first**. Take your time, ask for clarifications and examples. Remember to **be curious not furious.**  3. **Always reward candor**. Be grateful and accept the feedback whether you agree with it or not.  Video Player           00:00  00:00 00:31 Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.       ***View or listen to this and other past episodes [here.](https://unleashresults.com/unleashed-series/)*** ## Episode Highlights and Excerpts - Radical candor is radical because it is hard, and most people try to avoid difficult and uncomfortable conversations.  - The radical candor model is the combination of caring deeply and being direct. It comes from a place of sincerely wanting to help the other person improve by making sure they hear your message even if it is uncomfortable.  ![radical-candor](https://blog.unleashresults.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Unleashed/Unleashed%20S5/Radical%20Candor.png?width=359&name=Radical%20Candor.png) - There are four steps to soliciting feedback:  1. **ASK** for feedback before giving it to. Make your own question. Kim’s example is “What can I do or stop doing to make it easier to work with me?” Adjust the question for the person and the relationship you have with them.  2. **WAIT**. No matter how good the question, it is uncomfortable. But keep waiting.  3. **LISTEN** with the intent to understand.  4. **REWARD** the Candor. If you agree take action to fix the behavior. If you disagree, look for the 5-10% that you can agree with and start there. Then take the rest away and promise to reflect on it.  - Leaders should model the correct way to receive feedback by asking for it publicly and demonstrating humility and gratitude. A person providing difficult feedback is taking a risk in doing so. Make them and others observing feel that giving feedback is safe.  - Don’t forget to focus on the good things, the things we admire about people, along with the criticism.  - Be timely – providing difficult feedback gets more difficult the longer you wait.  - Have synchronous feedback conversations. Never provide it by message or email.  - When giving feedback use the Context – Observation – Results model. Never make judgements about personality or intent. Stick to the facts.  - Leaders should make sure that all managers are having one-on-one meetings with their direct reports at least weekly. They should also insist on ‘clean escalation,’ an approach where people need to talk directly with anyone they are having conflicts with and not speaking behind their backs or going around them to their bosses. - Radical candor begins with self-criticism. We must accept we are flawed before we can truly be open to constructive feedback from others.  ## **Take Your Business to the Next Level**  At Results we care about your success, we understand how overwhelming it can feel to run a business, and we’re here to help. 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Follow Jeff ([Twitter](https://x.com/JeffTetz); [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefftetz/); [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/jeffwtetz/)) for more great leadership insights. ## Access the Full Episode [Your Way](https://www.unleashresults.com/unleashed-series) Click the logo below to subscribe to your favorite platform and never miss another episode recording. Remember to subscribe to your favorite channel and be the first to know when new conversations are available. [![Results YouTube](https://blog.unleashresults.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/1-300x100-4.png?width=113&name=1-300x100-4.png)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu-cq4YysIvoMIsDGvPdaOQ)[![Results Spotify](https://blog.unleashresults.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/4-300x100-4.png?width=105&name=4-300x100-4.png)](https://open.spotify.com/show/3JRXTGIr3d3sY4hPqlZo1T)[![Results Apple Podcasts](https://blog.unleashresults.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/2-300x100-4.png?width=98&name=2-300x100-4.png)](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/unleashed-conversations-to-elevate-your-business/id1529641260)[![stitcher-logo-vector](https://blog.unleashresults.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/stitcher-logo-vector.png?width=67&height=37&name=stitcher-logo-vector.png)](https://www.stitcher.com/show/unleashed-conversations-to-elevate-your-business)[![podbean](https://blog.unleashresults.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/3-300x100-4.png?width=108&name=3-300x100-4.png)](https://unleashresults.podbean.com/) ## Kim Scott Kim Scott is the author of Just Work: Get \*t Done Fast and Fair as well as Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity. She co-founded two companies that help organizations put the ideas in her books into practice. Kim was a CEO coach at Dropbox, Qualtrics, Twitter, and other tech companies. Kim previously held leadership roles at Apple and Google. Earlier in her career Kim managed a pediatric clinic in Kosovo and started a diamond-cutting factory in Moscow.  Learn more about Kim's book Just Work [here](https://www.justworktogether.com/the-book). ## Want More Great Content? If you are interested in the full conversation, or past Unleashed guests, you can find all the Unleashed content – blogs, video, podcasts – on our website [here](https://unleashresults.com/unleashed-series/).  Each episode of Unleashed is hosted by Results’ CEO Jeff Tetz who spends most of his life deeply caring for others, exploring what makes high performers tick, and helping people unleash their full potential. You’ll find Jeff  [here](https://twitter.com/JeffTetz) on Twitter.  Article by Tim O’Connor ![Tim](https://blog.unleashresults.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Images/Tim.jpg?width=80&name=Tim.jpg) ### [Tim O’Connor](https://unleashresults.com/author/timoconnor/) - Share this article - - - [Sign Up Now for Upcoming Events](https://resources.unleashresults.com/leadership-development-events) ##### Sign Up For Our Newsletter - [Popular](https://blog.unleashresults.com/unleashed-e41-kim-scott-radical-candor#sidebar-popular-posts) - [Recent](https://blog.unleashresults.com/unleashed-e41-kim-scott-radical-candor#sidebar-recent-posts) [Why Does Change Management Fail (And What To Do About It) July, 20 2026](https://blog.unleashresults.com/why-change-management-fails) [The Results’ Four Cs of Extraordinary Teams Framework June, 21 2026](https://blog.unleashresults.com/the-results-four-cs-of-extraordinary-teams) [Climbing the Accountability Ladder May, 15 2026](https://blog.unleashresults.com/climbing-the-accountability-ladder) [How Emotionally Strong Leaders Handle Difficult People April, 20 2026](https://blog.unleashresults.com/how-emotionally-strong-leaders-handle-difficult-people-results) [Business Execution Summit 2026 Brings Leaders to Kananaskis March, 12 2026](https://blog.unleashresults.com/business-execution-summit-2026) [Climbing the Accountability Ladder May, 15 2026](https://blog.unleashresults.com/climbing-the-accountability-ladder) [The Results’ Four Cs of Extraordinary Teams Framework June, 21 2026](https://blog.unleashresults.com/the-results-four-cs-of-extraordinary-teams) [The Role of Leaders in Driving Innovation and Change July, 3 2024](https://blog.unleashresults.com/the-role-of-leaders-in-driving-innovation-and-change) [The Best Leadership Conferences in 2026 | Results January, 1 2026](https://blog.unleashresults.com/top-leadership-conferences) [Why Do Family Businesses Fail? 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