Radical Candor: Revised Edition (International Edition)

Transformative book

Bought this for my team at work after reading. Love this concept and see the difference in how we interact with each other. Highly recommend if you’re looking to create trust and honest communication not only at work - but in all interactions

A colleague of mine said that this was a book that changed her life; so, I ordered it at once and spent some quality time reading it. Kim Scott, the author, knows her stuff.Bottom-Line Up-Front, if you keep the message of the book in mind when you read it and filter out the defenses against critics that takes up the first portion of the book, this book has a great message that will be useful in many organizations.The central premise of the book is that organizations that embrace honest communications tend to do better than organizations that cloud information in either social nicety or malicious misinformation.At its face, this seems prima facia evident, but anyone that has ever worked in any large organization knows that often the truth is a rare commodity. Politics, bullying, and incompetence often work separately or negatively synergistically to make truth a painful pill to serve and to swallow.I love the examples and the ideas presented in the book. The book is not perfect though (what book is?).I read a later edition of it, and Kim spent some time in the first few sections defending her premise against the nay-sayers. For example, Dilbert lampooned her book giving the example of the evil boss and evil cat saying they were using "radical candor" when actually they were just castigating their employees in the worst possible way. Additionally, Kim ran into a lot of employees in the Silicone Valley who resented "privileged" bosses being candid with those employees when the conversation might involve constructive criticism.Kim spent a significant amount of time and pages in this version of the book trying to ameliorate these views either by explaining how Dilbert was wrong or why it was certainly possible that a privileged boss might give you criticism without it being a political statement.Unfortunately, this was all before she actually explained what Radical Candor was. It significantly watered down the message, and by addressing these views Kim unnecessarily gave credence to the critics, severely undercutting her own message.The core of her message comes down to three factors working together. First, you have to have trust. That is trust of employees by the managers, trust of the managers by the employees, and trust of the organization by its customers. Second, you have to have a shared view of the world and the information the organization is receiving, and finally, you need to ensure that all of the parties involved are working towards the same organizational goals.The first, trust, is necessary for honest communications to occur. The second, the shared view, means that the communication will have the context and synergy to positively affect the person and the organization, and finally, the third, working towards the same goal means that even when communications are not perfect, they will still have the spirit of moving the organization in a common direction.All in all, it is a very good book. Start with chapter three and safely skip the foreword and introduction. Also, keep in mind the three things that underpin the message in the book, trust, shared view, and common goals.

This is actually the second copy I purchased, but for one of my employees. My company aligns with radical candor and has been impactful in my leadership style. Worth the read

Radical Candor is an exceptional book that offers valuable insights into the world of leadership and management. Written by Kim Scott, a former executive at Google and Apple, the book provides practical tips and real-world examples for fostering a culture of open communication, honesty, and accountability in the workplace.One of the book's key strengths is its ability to provide actionable advice that can be applied immediately. Scott's framework for feedback, which involves a combination of caring personally and challenging directly, is one of the book's most impactful takeaways.Another aspect of Radical Candor that makes it worth the read is the author's ability to use relatable stories to illustrate her points. From her time working with Sheryl Sandberg at Google to her experience managing a team of engineers at Apple, Scott offers a variety of personal anecdotes that provide invaluable insights into the challenges and rewards of leadership.Overall, if you're looking for a practical and engaging guidebook on how to effectively manage your team, Radical Candor should definitely be on your list. With its fresh perspective on communication and its emphasis on developing strong relationships with employees, it's sure to help you become a more successful and effective leader.

The ending made me cry and I work in a slaughter house

Awesome book. The small size of this printed book would be great if traveling but it’s “too small” for casual reading. Opted for the larger size book.

Excellent instruction in a simple but quiet difficult skill. It is possible to train ourselves to be aware and compassionate while holding others accountable for their responsibilities and speaking about it directly.