Endless meetings can be exhausting — but what if they could actually be productive and meaningful? Kim and Amy talk with Dr. Steven Rogelberg, author of Glad We Met and The Surprising Science of Meetings, about how to run effective meetings and make every minute count — especially during one-on-one meetings. Steven shares research-backed tips for running better meetings, from framing agendas as questions to setting clear meeting norms that invite everyone’s voice. He explains why one-on-one meetings are the most important conversations managers can have, how they build trust, strengthen relationships, and boost team performance, and why they should never be replaced by an email. If you’re ready to spend less time in unproductive meetings and more time having conversations that count, this episode offers helpful guidance on meeting best practices, better collaboration, and creating space for real connection. Get all of the show notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RadicalCandor.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Episode Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Transcript Steven Rogelberg We Asked a Meeting Scientist How to Make Meetings Better — Here's What He Said 7 Ways To Improve One-on-One Meetings | Radical Candor Effective 1:1s - Tips For One-on-One Meetings With Your Team | Radical Candor 3 Tips For How To Run Effective Staff Meetings | Radical Candor Glad we Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings — Steven Rogelberg, Ph.D. The Surprising Science of Meetings — Steven Rogelberg, Ph.D. Meet Like A Boss — The 411 On 1:1s | Radical Candor Podcast S2, Ep. 9 Making Meetings Suck Less: Advice From Dr. Steven Rogelberg   Connect: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Kim and Amy introduce guest Dr. Steven Rogelberg, organizational psychologist and an expert on meetings. (00:03:51) The Impact of Meetings The global volume of meetings and the underestimated economic impact. (00:06:33) Optimizing Meetings Misconceptions about meetings and advice on improving their effectiveness. (00:09:39) Framing Agendas as Questions How to ensure that the meeting agenda questions are valuable. (00:12:01) Soliciting Feedback in Meetings Whether feedback should be solicited at the end of meetings. (00:14:24) Power of Silent Brainstorming Advice on encouraging team members to speak up in meetings. (00:17:51) Value of One-on-Ones Research that highlights the desire for more one-on-one meetings. (00:20:49) Building Relationships in One-on-Ones The importance of building relationships in one-on-one meetings. (00:25:54) One-on-One Best Practices Tips on starting, structuring, and scheduling one-on-one meetings. (00:28:21) Trust Through Signals How the location and questions of a one-on-one send powerful signals. (00:33:15) Scheduling for Success Optimizing schedules by spacing out one-on-ones and time blocking. (00:37:22) The Direct Report’s Role How direct reports can prepare for meetings with their managers. (00:41:48) Conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve all been there—that heart-sinking moment when you realize you’ve messed up at work. Kim, Jason, and Amy discuss how to recover from a big mistake without letting self-blame take over. Inspired by a Reddit post about a project that fell months behind, they share lessons from their own experiences, practical ways to take responsibility, and how to follow through with a recovery plan that actually works. You’ll learn why asking for support is a strength, not a weakness, and how managers can identify trouble early, check in effectively, and foster a culture where it’s safe to speak up before problems escalate. Whether you’ve missed a deadline, dropped the ball, or just want to be ready if things go sideways, this episode will help you rebuild trust and turn a setback into an opportunity for growth. Get all of the show notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RadicalCandor.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Episode Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Transcript Barings Bank: Its Collapse, Acquisition, and Lessons Learned | Investopedia I Fell Behind At Work And Fucked Up: How Do I Move Forward? | Reddit Resources For Feedback Training, Coaching & Development | Radical Candor How Delivering Bad News Early Strengthens Your Relationships at Work | Radical Candor Why Procrastinators Procrastinate | Wait But Why 6 Steps for Setting Measurable Goals to Avoid "Productivity Paranoia" | Radical Candor The Bob Story, a Tale of Ruinous Empathy | Radical Candor Podcast 4 | 1 Connect: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Kim, Jason, and Amy introduce a Redditor’s dilemma about falling months behind on a project. (00:02:59) When Big Mistakes Happen Stories of mistakes and why they feel so personal. (00:04:05) From Lost to Regained Credibility Why credibility is already damaged—and how to earn it back. (00:06:20) Getting Away With Mistakes How getting away with a risky choice makes it tempting to repeat. (00:08:32) Procrastination or Denial? Recognizing the difference and the risk to your reputation. (00:12:31) Acknowledging the Mistake Why the first step to regaining credibility is admitting the error. (00:15:34) Kim’s Story of Denial A personal startup experience, health struggles, and hard truths. (00:20:29) Accountability Without Punishment Why admitting mistakes doesn’t mean beating yourself up. (00:21:40) The Manager’s Role How leaders can spot issues early and make bad news safe to share. (00:26:34) Escaping the “Death March” Breaking the cycle of repeated missed deadlines. (00:29:45) Preventing Crisis With Goal Tracking How visibility helps identify delays before they become disasters. (00:33:09) A Plan to Rebuild Trust Steps for repairing credibility with your boss and peers. (00:36:11) Cognitive vs. Affective Trust The two sides of workplace trust and how to restore them. (00:38:04) Radical Candor Tips Advice for self-forgiveness, peer support, and managing accountability. (00:41:37) Conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Startup founders have a lot on their plates—but one of the most important things they can’t afford to neglect is how they build and lead their early team. Kim talks with executive coach and author Julia Austin about one of the most overlooked—but most important—skills for founders: setting clear expectations and giving helpful feedback early and often. Drawing from Julia’s book After the Idea, they cover how early hires shape company culture, why feedback systems matter from day one, and how to align as a team to create realistic, shared goals. Founders, joiners, and anyone curious about startup life will find valuable advice on leading with clarity, empathy, and purpose—because building a business starts with building relationships. Get all of the show notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RadicalCandor.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Episode Links:⁠⁠⁠ Transcript Julia Austin After the Idea: What It Really Takes to Create and Scale a Startup Connect: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Kim Scott introduces guest Julia Austin, who shares the inspiration behind her book After the Idea. (00:02:36) Why Early Hires Matter How the first 10–15 employees shape startup culture. (00:04:08) Building Good Systems The importance of healthy incentives and checks on power. (00:06:26) Growing Without Losing Trust The evolution of startups as they scale and the growing pains that follow. (00:08:14) Preparing for Growth and Change Managing team expectations as the company shifts and scales. (00:10:39) Layering Without Losing Trust Hiring early senior employees with transparency and respect. (00:14:51) Expectation Setting as a Leadership Tool Why clearly defined roles and goals are the most underused tools. (00:17:52) Co-Creating Goals in Startups Tips on using 30/60/90-day plans and bottoms-up goal setting. (00:19:53) What to Do When It’s Not Working Signs of misalignment and navigating tough conversations with care. (00:22:14) The Value of Contrarians Why different working styles and perspectives can be strengths. (00:23:49) Communicating What Success Looks Like Setting clear goals to reduce ambiguity and guide decision-making. (00:25:44) Aligning on Growth Strategy Why co-founders need to agree on the speed and path of scale. (00:28:10) Building a Culture of Feedback Small changes that create clarity, reduce fear, and invite real conversations. (00:29:50) Working With Visionary Founders Addressing unrealistic expectations while honoring the big picture. (00:32:02) Staying Connected as You Scale How founders can stay approachable and in touch as the company grows. (00:34:55) The Power of In-Person Moments Why off-Zoom time and shared experiences matter for team trust. (00:36:20) Common Mistakes Founders Make Avoiding common traps like bottlenecking, gossip loops, and unclear roles. (00:38:55) Conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kim, Jason, and Amy respond to a real-life leadership curveball: what happens when you accept a new role—only to find out mid-interview that it’s actually a director position? Inspired by a question from Reddit, they share practical advice for anyone navigating the leap from managing individuals to managing managers. Learn how to build trust early, create a strong feedback culture, and recognize when to listen and when to take action. Whether you’re new to leadership or just feeling a little unprepared, remember: you don’t have to have all the answers. Leading with Radical Candor means you care personally, challenge directly, and stay curious. Your job isn’t to fix everything—it’s to help your team grow. Get all of the show notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RadicalCandor.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Episode Links:⁠ Transcript Accidentally Landed A Director Role | Reddit What Do Managers of Managers Do? (The Crank Call From Kim) 4 | 16 Five Principles For Successfully Managing Managers Are You a Manager of Managers? Here's How Speak-Truth-To-Power Meetings Can Make Your Workplace More Equitable Leading Large Teams: How to Manage 50+ Direct Reports In an Open Office or Factory Setting Context Matters — Share Your Radical Candor Stories 3 | 2 Connect: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Kim, Amy, and Jason introduce a Reddit question about becoming a first time company director. (00:01:12) Core Management Principles Why the fundamentals of good leadership apply at every level. (00:03:18) Scaling Leadership Skills Learning to coach managers instead of solving problems directly. (00:05:35) Speak Truth to Power Meetings Creating space for honest feedback across company hierarchies. (00:07:39) Building Trust Why listening first matters—especially in a new role. (00:11:52) Handling Dysfunctional Teams Avoiding harm by understanding the root of the issues. (00:13:19) Navigating Pressure from Above How to explain why slowing down builds a strong foundation. (00:14:46) When to Step in Immediately Stories of handling toxic behavior and disrespect as managers. (00:17:37) Spotting Issues in Remote Teams Picking up subtle cues and helping team members course-correct. (00:19:03) When Moving Too Slowly Backfires Lessons from when hesitation allowed issues to grow. (00:23:52) Leading Through Identity How personal identity shapes experience and response in leadership. (00:27:16) Respectful Leadership Examples of respectful leadership communication and collaboration. (00:30:30) Ask for Help the Right Way Encouragement for new leaders to share their plans and seek feedback. (00:33:50) Radical Candor Tips Tips for helping overwhelmed, hesitant, or siloed leaders. (00:42:00) Conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Candor Coach and executive coach Farrah Mitra joins Amy Sandler to share her 4-step Communicating Change Framework—a practical guide for leaders navigating layoffs, performance conversations, or org changes. Learn how to deliver tough news with kindness, clarity, and confidence, without causing unnecessary harm. A must-listen for anyone leading through change with Radical Candor. Get all of the show notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RadicalCandor.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Episode Links: Transcript Communicating Change with Clarity and Care—A Framework for Leaders The Biggest Reason We Run from Challenging Conversations What's Your Radical Candor Story? Candor Coaches Share The Feedback They're Most Grateful For Farrah Mitra | LinkedIn Lead Change Better: A New Way to Communicate What’s Coming Connect: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Amy introduces Farrah Mitra, Radical Candor coach and creator of the Communicating Change framework. (00:01:49) Why This Matters Two stories that highlight the power of how change is communicated. (00:04:47) Framing Makes the Difference How message delivery impacts emotional response. (00:06:28) Goals of the Framework The overarching goal of the Communicating Change framework. (00:07:36) Why We Avoid Empathy Why leaders struggle with human-centered communication during change. (00:09:54) Structure Creates Confidence Creating a process that facilitates courage and clarity in conversations. (00:11:30) Communicating Change Framework A framework that gives leaders direction during tough conversations. (00:13:00) Coaching for Mindset Shifts Coaching to focus on reframing how leaders feel before they speak. (00:14:20) Reframing from Guilt to Partnership A real coaching story shows how shifting mindset changes everything. (00:17:51) Grief, Identity & Communication Why emotional processing is key before delivering hard news. (00:21:00) Clarifying the Message Choosing a narrative that doesn't mix performance and role decisions. (00:25:13) Focus on the Receiver Questions to help reverse engineer empathetic communication. (00:29:02) Helpful Phrasing Tips Phrasing examples to tailor language to ensure authenticity and clarity. (00:31:15) Empathy vs. Niceness Thoughtfully using structure to communicate with clarity and compassion. (00:35:24) Company-Wide Implementation How one org made the framework part of their leadership culture. (00:38:19) Why Empathy Still Wins Human-centered communication prevents harm—even in tough moments. (00:39:52) Connect with Farrah Where to connect with Farrah and find her framework. (00:41:11) Conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Amy talks with Harvard Business School professor and author of The Ritual Effect, Michael Norton, about how simple acts—like tapping your lucky pen or that sacred coffee run—can do more than you think. We're talking stress relief, team bonding, and (yes) actually making work feel meaningful. They unpack the difference between rituals and habits, why your team’s goofy lunch routine might be a stealth morale boost, and how even a tiny shared check-in—emoji-style—can reconnect us across the remote void. No kumbaya circles required. Tune in for a surprising, deeply human take on how we find connection, purpose, and a little weird joy in the everyday. Get all of the show notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RadicalCandor.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Episode Links: Transcript Michael Norton Behavioral Science Books | Michael Norton  Michael I. Norton | Harvard Business School  Humblebragging: A Distinct—and Ineffective—Self-Presentation Strategy  Matchmaking Promotes Happiness | Social Psychological and Personality Science  Rituals Quiz | What Are Your Rituals? | Michael Norton  The Calming Power of Rituals | WSJ Connect: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Amy Sandler introduces guest Michael Norton and his book The Ritual Effect. (00:00:55) The Meaning in Small Rituals A fun and engaging ritual exercise to demonstrate emotional connections. (00:02:52) From Skeptic to Advocate Michael’s journey from being a ritual skeptic to writing The Ritual Effect. (00:05:49) The Meaning of Rituals How rituals naturally emerge to provide structure and meaning. (00:07:53) Rituals vs. Habits The emotional difference between habits and rituals. (00:10:06) Rituals as Emotion Generators The dual role of rituals in generating and managing emotions. (00:12:49) The Power of Collective Rituals How shared rituals strengthen bonds and emotional resonance. (00:14:07) Rituals in the Workplace Examples of team rituals that foster bonding and purpose. (00:16:39) Testing Rituals in Experiments Research showing even made-up rituals increase group cohesion. (00:20:37) Creating Work Rituals Advice for leaders to co-create rituals for new work teams. (00:23:12) Adapting Rituals for Remote Work How teams have developed virtual rituals to maintain connection online. (00:25:53) Meaningful Rituals in the Workplace The significance of rituals in the workplace for individuals and leaders. (00:29:11) Evaluating the Benefits of Rituals How rituals contribute positively to mental health and well-being. (00:32:40) Leaders Supporting Organic Rituals Encouraging authentic rituals without imposing corporate mandates. (00:35:40) Aligning Rituals with Team Values Using rituals to express and reinforce organizational values. (00:37:20) Discovering Your Rituals Exploring the rituals in your life through Michael’s Ritual Quiz. (00:40:52) Conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When your one-on-ones start sounding like therapy sessions with zero breakthroughs, it’s time to ask—what’s really going on here? Jason and Amy unpack a Reddit post from a manager caught in a swirl of venting, defiance, and total burnout from their team. They dive into what venting actually signals, why some people shoot down every idea (even the good ones), and how to rebuild trust when the whole vibe is off. Sometimes it’s not about “fixing” people—it’s about listening like you mean it and why “don’t bring me problems, bring me solutions” might be the most toxic advice you never meant to give. It’s a deep dive into messy middle management moments, complete with hard truths, small wins, and the uncomfortable art of getting unstuck—without just slapping on a smile and pretending everything’s fine. Get all of the show notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RadicalCandor.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Episode Links: Transcript Effective 1:1s - Tips For One-on-One Meetings With Your Team | Radical Candor 7 Ways To Improve One-on-One Meetings | Radical Candor Have More Effective 1:1 Meetings | Radical Candor Podcast 2 | 9 Resistant Direct Reports | Radical Candor Podcast 7 | 8 The Go-To Question | Radical Candor Podcast 2 | 8 Some direct reports have nothing to say during 1-on-1s | Reddit Connect: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Jason and Amy introduce a Reddit post about managing one-on-ones that turn into venting sessions. (00:02:35) Complaining vs. Valid Frustration How to treat repeated venting as a signal, not background noise. (00:04:00) The Manager’s Middle Role The challenges of managing from the middle of the org chart. (00:05:12) Listening as a Strategic Tool Why reflective listening helps clarify what really matters to your team. (00:06:33) Soliciting Specific Feedback Effectively Using targeted questions to gather feedback from frustrated reports. (00:09:52)Tailoring Feedback Questions Why not all feedback questions are equal: timing and specificity are key. (00:10:37) Celebrating Small Wins How to acknowledge constraints while celebrating progress. (00:12:17) Shifting from Emotion to Action Encouraging forward motion by focusing on what can be done now. (00:14:19) Managing Venting Time Balancing space to vent with the need to move forward. (00:17:03) Venting Culture & Peer Influence How one person’s negativity can shape the entire team dynamic. (00:19:01) Manipulative Insincerity & Unmet Needs Understanding venting as a shortcut to connection and belonging. (00:20:35) “Don’t Bring Me Problems” – Helpful or Harmful? Why banning complaints can backfire—and what to do instead. (00:22:14) The Roleplay: Shooting Down Every Idea A roleplay showing how to respond when every idea gets shot down. (00:27:00) Solutions Without Overpromising How to be honest about constraints without losing trust. (00:28:54) Radical Candor Tips Actionable tips to guide productive, empathetic one-on-ones. (00:31:38) Conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in the U.S. get fewer days off than folks in Europe, and most of us still feel guilty taking them. Kim and Amy dive headfirst into a viral Reddit post that reads like a love letter to European work-life sanity (and a roast of U.S. grind culture). From vanishing vacations to broken healthcare, Kim reflects on what she’s learned leading teams, taking parental leave, and watching her inbox balloon on every trip. They dig into the messy reality of “unlimited PTO,” why burnout can’t be yoga’d away, and how leaders can build workplaces that actually honor rest. Plus, Kim reacts live to advice on this problem from her own Google Portrait—an AI that Kim helped design with Google to tackle workplace BS when real Kim is off the clock. It’s part cultural reckoning, part vacation manifesto, and 100% Radical Candor. Get all of the show notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RadicalCandor.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Episode Links: Transcript Kim Scott Portrait From Google Labs | Radical Candor Kim Scott’s Portrait | Google Labs Try My Google Portrait | YouTube ​​Humanizing AI: Meet the Kim Scott Google Portrait | Radical Candor Podcast 7 | 27   Radical Candor, Real-Time With Google's AI Portraits | YouTube As a European, The U.S. Work Culture Looks Like Dystopia With Better Branding: r/antiwork European Employee Blasts US Work Culture in Viral Post: 'Dystopia' | Newsweek What Is The Lazy Girl Job Trend And Why Should You Care? | Radical Candor A Brief History: Universal Health Care Efforts in the US | PNHP Connect: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Kim and Amy introduce a viral Reddit thread comparing U.S. and European work cultures. (00:03:01) Personal Vacation Needs How vacation needs differ based on individual rhythms and roles. (00:06:43) Unlimited Time Off – Does It Work? The pitfalls of unlimited PTO and whether it discourages actual rest. (00:10:29) Healthcare History & Economic Impact How employer-tied health coverage burdens both people and businesses. (00:14:53) Cultural Mindsets, AI & Policy Gaps The need for government mandates to help protect overall wellbeing. (00:20:28) Leading with Compassion in Organizations The role of leadership in building burnout-resistant workplace cultures. (00:24:25) Centeredness Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All How forced wellness fails and support must be personalized. (00:26:36) Introducing Kim’s Google Portrait The motivation behind Radical Candor AI and Google Portraits. (00:31:47) Human vs. Portrait Kim Kim reacts to her Portrait’s response to the Reddit thread. (00:35:04) Radical Candor as a Solution The Portrait outlines how Radical Candor helps challenge toxic norms. (00:37:30) Portraits as Scalable Empathy Amy shares her own impressive interaction with the Portrait. (00:39:41) Radical Candor Tips Tips to support wellbeing and long-term, human-centered success. (00:41:43) Judging Work Styles & Power Dynamics The influence leaders have on working preferences and email etiquette. (00:44:23) Conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most leaders learn on the fly—and Kim knows the bruises that come with it. In this episode she joins longtime Google Distinguished Designer Ryan Germick to discuss the innovative "Kim Scott Portrait," an AI-powered tool designed by Google Labs (and trained by the real Kim) to scale Kim's expertise and deliver Radically Candid advice 24/7. Discover how this new technology aims to humanize AI, free authors from the burden of answering repetitive questions, and foster more productive communication in the workplace. Get all of the show notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RadicalCandor.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Episode Links: Transcript Now You Can Talk Radical Candor 24/7 With the Kim Scott Portrait Google Portrait | Kim Scott Ryan Germick - Google | LinkedIn Connect: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Kim and Ryan Germick introduce the “Portrait” collaboration—an AI version of Kim designed to scale her coaching. (00:01:33) Live Coaching Demo Kim’s Portrait answers a tough management question. (00:03:36) Why the Portrait Matters How the Portrait helps Kim reach more people and free up time for writing. (00:05:38) Kim’s Next Book A look into Kim’s upcoming optimistic novel set in 2070. (00:06:30) Family Interactions with the Portrait Funny and revealing story of Kim’s son debating the AI. (00:08:10) The “Automated Kim” Origin Story How a team joke at Google inspired the Portrait concept. (00:09:29) Coaching at Scale Why books and AI scale Kim’s message better than 1:1 coaching. (00:11:41) Personalized vs Generic AI The value of expert-driven Portraits over average LLM responses. (00:12:57) Training the Portrait Kim explains her hands-on role in fine-tuning its responses. (00:14:44) Solving Repetitive Questions How Portraits provide patient, consistent answers to FAQs. (00:16:07) Productive Disagreement Through Portraits The vision for AI-facilitated, respectful debates. (00:17:26) Expanding Globally Plans for multi-language and international Portrait availability. (00:17:48) Real-World Use Cases The ways Portraits support work, life, and social media decisions. (00:20:23) Empathy-Driven AI AI as a personal board of directors, with lived-experience expertise. (00:23:51) Empowering Creators Portraits can be embedded on creators’ own platforms—no lock-in. (00:26:19) Lived Experience as Research Kim defends storytelling as a valid path to truth and insight. (00:28:24) Supporting New Managers Portraits offer guidance during the lonely transition into leadership. (00:31:11) Navigating Difficult Bosses Portraits can help employees manage up with empathy and agency. (00:33:30) Changing Workplace Culture Helping people shift from silence or aggression to Radical Candor. (00:36:17) Personality Extenders Portraits as scalable human touchpoints for the future. (00:38:51) Creating Your Own Portrait How to create your own Portrait and scale your voice. (00:39:48) Conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Being a boss is hard—and most people are thrown into it with zero training and a vague job description. Kim and Jason are joined by Andrew Palmer—yes, that Andrew Palmer from The Economist’s “Bartleby” column and host of the Boss Class podcast—for a wide-ranging, no-BS conversation about what leadership looks like when it’s done well…and when it’s not. Together, they dig into the hilarious, maddening, and meaningful realities of modern management: from the awkward feedback moments and the myth of the “natural leader,” to power corruption and the poetry-prose balance of real leadership. Andrew brings the receipts (read: research),  and together they swap tips on blocking your calendar like a boss, making your expectations explicit, and the underrated power of writing things down (including what not to do). This isn’t about chasing the latest leadership trend—it’s about holding on to the stuff that actually helps people thrive at work. Whether you're a seasoned manager, a team player, or simply trying not to lose your mind in a sea of emails, this one’s for you. Get all of the show notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RadicalCandor.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Episode Links Transcript Andrew Palmer  Managing Is Hard—Here’s What Actually Helps | Radical Respect LinkedIn Boss Class podcast  Bartleby | The Economist  Connect: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices