A manager’s silence seems to cost nothing, but it is paid for in trust, ideas, and talented people who leave.
Between keeping quiet to stay nice and being so direct that it hurts, there is a demanding path: say what you see, announce what people won’t like, and reset expectations promptly, with as much care as candor. This module gives you the method and the words for these three moments, in person or remotely.
~20 min at your own paceKey skill: Managerial CommunicationAvailable in FR + ENNo prerequisites
What you’ll take away
- the Radical Candor compass, between kind silence and harshness that hurts
- a set of ready-made phrases to announce an unpopular decision or name an issue
- the habit of admitting your mistakes aloud, which builds your credibility
Who it’s for
Managers who want a team where people speak freely, starting with themselves.
Learning objectives
- Keep both sides of Radical Candor in balance: care personally about the person and challenge them directly.
- Say what you observe, from successes to problems, and publicly admit your own mistakes as a manager.
- Deliver difficult messages clearly—“clear is kind”—rather than softening or postponing them.
- Reset expectations face to face, adult to adult, using the right channel when the team works remotely.
How does this module work?
The steps of the Adaptive module.
- Self-assessmentOn nine dimensions, to gauge current habits and guide the practice.
- Expert videoA ~10 min video with three pauses for reflection.
- Practice scenariosThe first two scenarios chosen from the self-assessment, then sixteen more, optional. Every answer gets feedback: what it leads to, and one way to improve.
- Dated commitmentOne action to try, written by the learner or chosen from the suggestions.
- Memo to downloadKey takeaways, questions, commitment, personal notes, and checklists.
Duration: ~20 min. Excluding bonus practice scenarios and optional in-depth content.
