Radical Candor: Communication at Work

By: Kim Scott Jason Rosoff & Amy Sandler
  • Summary

  • Learn to love your job and kick ass at work without losing your humanity by practicing the principles of Radical Candor. Improve your feedback and communications skills, become a better leader, manager or team player, and drive your #careergoals in the direction of your dreams. Host Amy Sandler leads discussions with Radical Candor co-founders Kim Scott and Jason Rosoff about what it means to be Radically Candid, why it’s simple but not easy to Care Personally and Challenge Directly on the daily, and why it’s worth it. Tune in to get actionable tips for doing the best work of your life and building the best relationships of your career, and don't forget to read Kim Scott's New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling book Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity!

    Get this podcast early and ad-free when you join the Radical Candor Community! Sign up now and, in addition to the ad-free podcast, you'll get a 7-day FREE trial, access to Radical Candor courses, real-time, interactive learning opportunities, regular interaction with Radical Candor experts, and so much more! If you’ve ever struggled with communication at work, this is your community.
    Copyright Radical Candor 2024
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Episodes
  • The Wild Courage to Get What You Want, With Jenny Wood 7 | 13
    Mar 26 2025
    Stop playing it safe—embrace the bold, unexpected traits that actually get you ahead.Success doesn’t come to those who wait—it comes to those who take it. For years, you’ve been told to be humble, play nice, and wait your turn. Jenny Wood says that’s exactly why so many talented people stay stuck. As a former Google executive turned author of Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It, she’s here to expose the real traits that drive success—ones that might make you uncomfortable. Forget the polite career playbook, being selfish, obsessed, even a little manipulative (the right way) can actually be your biggest advantage. Jenny gets radically candid with Kim and Amy on why risk-taking beats waiting for permission, why saying “no” is a career superpower, and how to self-promote without sounding like a jerk. If you’re sick of playing it safe and watching others pass you by, this episode is your permission slip to take bigger swings and get what you want.Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.Episode Links:Wild Courage by Jenny WoodThe Story of “How About Never” | The New YorkerNewsletter | Jenny WoodWatch on YouTubeConnect:WebsiteInstagramTikTokLinkedInFacebookYouTubeChapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionKim and Amy welcome Jenny Wood, author of Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It.(00:1:02) The Nine Traits That Will Get You AheadNine controversial traits that are actually career superpowers.(00:4:26) The Subway Story That Changed EverythingJenny shares a story on ignoring self-doubt and taking action.(00:10:16) Calculated Risks vs. Playing It SafeWhy taking smart risks is essential for personal and professional success.(00:13:04) The Google Factor: How It Shaped Wild CourageHow Google built confidence, encouraged risks, and sparked creativity.(00:17:09) Owning Your WeirdAdvice for staying authentic in workplaces that don’t naturally foster it.(00:21:38) Identifying Your Power AssetsIdentifying your power assets to make self-promotion feel natural.(00:25:22) Managing Up, Higher, and DiagonallyA tactical guide to workplace influence through strategic senior connections.(00:31:54) Overcoming Bias in the WorkplaceStrategies to counter workplace biases in recognition and self-promotion.(00:36:56) Why Saying No is a SuperpowerHow learning to say no without guilt protects your time and energy. (00:42:40) Get in Front of the Right PeopleThe importance of standing out and getting noticed by leadership.(00:44:57) Pull It and Bullet ItThe “Pull It and Bullet It” method for impactful, time-saving emails.(00:48:05) Where to Find Jenny WoodWhere to get Wild Courage and find Jenny for keynotes and workshops.(00:49:41) Conclusion
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    51 mins
  • How to TALK So People Actually Listen with Dr. Alison Wood Brooks 7 | 12
    Mar 19 2025
    Ditch the awkwardness and start owning every conversation.

    Talking to people shouldn’t feel like a struggle—but let’s be honest, it often does. Maybe you’re stuck in small talk hell, getting ignored in meetings, or watching conversations die mid-sentence. Why is this so hard? Amy sits down with Dr. Alison Wood Brooks, Harvard Business School professor and author of Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves, to expose the hidden science behind great conversations—and why most of us are getting it wrong. They break down the TALK framework (Topics, Asking, Levity, and Kindness) and unpack the subtle mistakes that make people tune out, disengage, or just not like talking to you. Whether you want to command the room, sound sharper in meetings or just stop replaying every interaction in your head, Alison delivers straight-shooting, science-backed strategies to help you talk better, connect faster, and stress less.

    Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.

    Episode Links:
    • Alison Wood Brooks
    • Talk: The Science Of Conversation and the Art Of Being Ourselves
    • Alison Wood Brooks | LinkedIn

    Connect:
    • Website
    • Instagram
    • TikTok
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube

    Chapters:

    (00:00:00) Introduction
    Amy Sandler welcomes Dr. Alison Wood Brooks, Harvard Business School professor and author of Talk: The Science of Conversation.

    (00:01:44) The Power of Connection in Conversation
    How small, personal connections can create deeper conversations.

    (00:02:53) What Inspired Talk?
    Dr. Wood Brooks shares how she became fascinated with conversation science.

    (00:07:25) Giving Conversation Feedback
    Why most people receive little feedback on their conversational skills.

    (00:13:17) The Hidden Coordination Game
    How small, unconscious decisions shape every conversation.

    (00:18:54) The TALK Framework
    Topics, Asking, Levity, and Kindness—the four keys to better conversations.

    (00:20:24) Practicing Listening
    Guided exercises and listening techniques from the Talk course.

    (00:21:39) The Science Behind Mind-Wandering
    Why we tune out during conversations and how to stay present.

    (00:29:06) The Challenges of Group Conversations
    Why group conversations are harder to manage than one-on-one talks.

    (00:34:05) Digital vs. In-Person Talk
    How virtual communication changes conversations.

    (00:36:51) Designing Better Meetings
    Strategies for leaders to create inclusive and effective meetings.

    (00:39:37) Boomer Asking
    The conversational habit that makes people disengage.

    (00:44:28) Where to Find Dr. Wood Brooks
    Dr. Wood Brooks shares where to find her work and book tour details.

    (00:45:32) Conclusion
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    46 mins
  • When the PIP Feels Disingenuous: The Ethics of Managing Out 7 | 11
    Mar 12 2025
    When a PIP feels like a setup, how do you handle it without compromising your integrity?Trapped between an HR-driven process that feels like a sham and a direct report who’s not meeting expectations? That’s a management nightmare. When a boss hands you a struggling employee with the unspoken expectation that you’ll “manage them out,” how do you stay honest, maintain trust, and avoid turning into the workplace grim reaper? Kim, Jason, and Amy break down the emotional and ethical toll of Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs), how to navigate them without feeling like a pawn, and why Radical Candor is the only way through. This isn’t about sugarcoating or corporate theater—it’s about handling tough conversations with clarity, fairness, and a whole lot less BS. Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.Episode Links:The Radical Candor Order of Operations | Radical CandorManaging Challenging Conversations At Work | Radical CandorWhat Does Managing Out Mean? | Radical Candor Podcast 6 | 6Performance Improvement Plans | Radical Candor Podcast 5 | 20The Measurement Problem | Radical Candor Podcast 3 | 7How To Gauge Your Feedback | Radical CandorAre You 'Helping' or Micromanaging? | Radical Candor Podcast 5 | 2Is Your Employee In The Wrong Job? Don't Let Ruinous Empathy Ruin Your TeamAbsentee Management vs. Quiet Firing | Radical Candor Podcast 5 | 3Connect:WebsiteInstagramTikTokLinkedInFacebookYouTubeChapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionKim, Jason, and Amy introduce a listener’s question on handling a PIP with integrity.(00:02:28) Leadership FailuresHow bad management decisions created this unfair situation.(00:06:15) Is This Process Disingenuous?Struggling with feeling inauthentic when following HR's PIP process.(00:09:19) The Emotional Toll of Performance ManagementThe frustrations of the process for both the manager and the direct report.(00:13:51) Communicating Radical Candor During a PIPFraming tough conversations without misleading employees.(00:18:51) Why Informal PIPs ExistThe value of informal PIPs in ensuring fairness.(00:22:17) Responding to Employee PushbackHandling direct reports who challenge the PIP process.(00:28:28) What Can a Manager Legally and Ethically Say?Making difficult conversations feel more human and constructive.(00:32:59) Radical Candor TipsLessons for managing performance issues with Radical Candor.(00:36:05) Pushing Back to the Boss Having a candid conversation about being put in this situation.(00:37:25) Conclusion
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    39 mins

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