Radical Candor: Communication at Work
Radical Candor: Communication at Work
Kim Scott, Jason Rosoff & Amy Sandler
Navigating the Nuances of Tone in Feedback 7 | 25
45 minutes Posted Jun 18, 2025 at 7:00 am.
) Introduction
) When “Technically Fine” Still Feels Off
) Observing vs. Interpreting Tone
) Shifting from “You Statements” to “I Statements”
) Using Impact to Shift Perspective
) Coaching Through Goals, Not Emotions
) Reframing CORE to Match Your Audience
) What Not to Do: Avoiding Coded Language
) Be Specific: Volume, Pace, Tension
) Extending Grace
) Praise When They Get It Right
) Handling Tone in Public Meetings
) Breaking the False Harmony in the Room
) Private Inquiry or Public Repair
) Radical Candor Tips
) ICE Deportation & Bearing Witness
) The Danger of Secret Cruelty
) This Isn’t a One-Off: It’s Systemic
) There’s Still Hope: Do the Right Thing
) Conclusion
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45:54
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Show notes
Ever tried giving someone feedback about their tone…without sounding like the tone police? This episode was sparked by a listener wrestling with just that—and let’s be real, it’s something we’ve all tripped over. Join Kim and Jason as they dive into the messy, nuanced world of tone: why it matters, how to talk about it without getting judgmental, and what to do when someone’s words are technically fine but their delivery leaves the room on edge. Using the CORE framework—Context, Observation, Result, and Expected next steps—they break down how to be specific about what happened, how it landed, and how to move forward without sounding accusatory or vague. Tune in to hear Kim and Jason unpack real-life examples, share the coaching that worked (and what didn’t), and explore how bias, culture, and identity play into how tone is received. Bonus: Kim gets personal about a recent experience that reminded her why kindness and courage matter—on and off the mic.
Get all of the show notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RadicalCandor.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Episode Links
Transcript
The Evil Translator & The Fundamental Attribution Error | Radical Candor Podcast 7 | 21
How To Measure Feedback | Radical Candor Podcast 6 | 41
The Word Police | Radical Candor Podcast 6 | 25
The Importance Of Communication In The Workplace | Radical Candor
8 Ways To Fix Communication Issues In The Workplace | Radical Candor
Are You Giving Biased Feedback? 5 Ways To Overcome Protective Hesitation | Radical Candor
How To Give Candid Feedback With the Radical Candor CORE Method
Radical Candor Community: CORE Course
Radical Respect Newsletter
Textio
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Chapters:
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Kim and Jason introduce a listener’s question about addressing tone with CORE.
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How misinterpretations and sensitivities around tone impact teams.
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Avoiding misattributions by observing, not just interpreting.
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Using reactions to provide grounded, less judgmental feedback.
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How describing the impact of tone keeps the conversation constructive.
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A story about using feedback to overcome sounding arrogant.
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Using CORE to focus on tangible outcomes, not just feelings.
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The biased undertones certain words like "shrill" or "aggressive" carry.
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Being specific when giving feedback about tone delivery.
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Giving the benefit of the doubt when something lands poorly.
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The positive impact of giving feedback when tone lands well.
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When to react in real time and when it’s better to follow up privately.
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A story about addressing passive-aggressive tension in a meeting.
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A story about how Google’s CEO gracefully handled a tone misstep.
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Practical tips on how to give feedback on tone.
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A story about a beloved community member deported by ICE. 
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The dehumanization of silent suffering and concealed harm.
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Broader systemic issues and how routine cruelty has become normalized.
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The Radical Candor mission to care personally and challenge directly.
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